Bhubaneswar: Student union elections were held across 13 universities and 346 colleges in Odisha this year, ending a eight-year hiatus and witnessing keen contests between rival student organisations. The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) emerged victorious at BJB Autonomous College and Rajdhani College while the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) won at Rama Devi Women’s University and Ravenshaw University.
Several colleges witnessed intense competition between the two organisations, while elections were cancelled at some institutions following incidents of violence. In others, candidates were elected unopposed. After polling ended at 2 pm Thursday, vote counting began. By 6.45 pm, results had been declared in 153 colleges, where 1,398 candidates had been elected.
Of them, 756 were elected unopposed, while 642 won contested elections. The counting and declaration of results at other colleges and universities were still underway. Voter turnout varied considerably across universities.
Madhusudan Law University recorded the highest turnout at 78.87%, followed by Utkal University at 68.69% and Maa Manikeshwari University at 67.24%. At Utkal University, 2,609 students cast their votes, while Maa Manikeshwari University recorded 28,17 votes, according to the figures provided. Dharanidhar University recorded 2,051 votes, with a turnout of 65.77%.
Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University recorded 917 votes, with a turnout of 64.03%. At Fakir Mohan University, 1,047 students voted, taking the turnout to 53.30%, while Sambalpur University recorded 977 votes and a turnout of 54.24%.
Vikram Dev University saw 2,225 students vote, with turnout at 50.86%. Ravenshaw University recorded 3,777 votes, with a turnout of 47.73%. At Rama Devi Women’s University, 1,550 students voted, taking turnout to 30.27%.
Khallikote University recorded 1,310 votes, with turnout at 26%. Brahmapur University reported the lowest turnout at 19.53%, with only 423 students casting their votes.
Counting was underway at several colleges and universities, with results yet to be declared at many institutions. The outcome from several campuses was expected as counting progressed.