Bhubaneswar: BJD president Naveen Patnaik Saturday claimed that the student union poll candidates of its student wing, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, secured victories in 50 per cent of seats in universities and 60 per cent in colleges in the October 15 elections.
The five-time former Odisha chief minister expressed satisfaction over Biju Chhatra Janata Dal’s performance in the polls and alleged that the ruling BJP used money and muscle power, and other unfair means to win the elections.
“Biju Chhatra Janata Dal has done very well in the recent elections, winning more than 60 per cent of seats in colleges and around 50 per cent of seats in universities despite the BJP government using money power, muscle power, and adopting all unfair means.
“I congratulate all young people of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal,” the leader of the opposition in the state Assembly told reporters.
This came hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the ABVP’s victory in Odisha student union polls “a stern response to anti-national forces”, saying that it reaffirms that youth favour the ‘nation first’ ideology.
In the October 15 elections, the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) secured victories in eight of 13 state universities and in several colleges across the state.
The BCJD members secured five universities. The Congress’ NSUI failed to win any president’s post in the recently held campus polls.
The BJD, in a statement, said students across the state have extended overwhelming support to it in the student union elections.
“This has proved the affection of Gen Z towards former chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Students will never forget the revolutionary transformation brought about in the education sector in Odisha during Patnaik’s tenure as chief minister,” said BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohant.
“Despite extensively misusing government machinery and power to influence the student union elections in its favour, the BJP government failed to secure the support of students. Chief Minister Majhi desperately needed a victory at Rama Devi Women’s University, but Gen Z did not allow that to happen,” claimed BCJD president Ipsita Sahoo.
She also pointed out that the BCJD has registered major victories in Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo’s Bolangir and Pravati Parida’s Puri districts.
“Though BCJD candidates emerged victorious in more than 60 per cent of colleges across the state, the deputy chief ministers, ministers and other leaders of the ruling party are spreading false claims that the ABVP has won in 80 per cent of colleges in the state. If the BJP government has the courage, it should accept the truth and present the actual figures,” Sahoo added.
