Odisha colleges face unrest following student union election cancellations

Student union elections in several Odisha colleges have been cancelled or delayed, leading to campus unrest and protests.

In the Bhadrak district, Bhadrak Women’s College and Naami College both cancelled their scheduled polls. At Bhadrak Women’s College, the administration cited the safety of female students as the reason for the decision, prompting protests from Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) candidates. The college has since declared a sine die closure, suspending all academic and administrative activities. At Naami College, the cancellation occurred shortly before nominations were due, with the principal citing a sensitive and exceptional situation.

In Jagatsinghpur, Brundaban Chandra Degree College and Swami Arupananda Degree College of Education and Technology are facing difficulties conducting elections. Officials cited staff shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and low student enrollment as primary obstacles. Students at Brundaban Chandra Degree College staged demonstrations, arguing that staff shortages should not prevent them from exercising their democratic right to elect a union.