Bhubaneswar: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), the student wing of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), emerged victorious at Utkal University and Rama Devi Women’s University, respectively, as the results of student union elections were declared late on Thursday night following hours of tension and confusion.

At Utkal University, ABVP candidates Abhiram Mishra won the president’s post, while Ayushi Pradhan was elected general secretary. At Rama Devi Women’s University, BCJD candidates Sonali Behera and Laxmipriya Biswal won the president’s and general secretary’s posts, respectively.

The elections at the two prominent universities in Bhubaneswar became the centre of attention across Odisha, with delayed counting, allegations of manipulation, clashes between rival student groups and protests keeping the campuses tense until late at night.

Tension escalates at Rama Devi University

The election at Rama Devi Women’s University witnessed intense political rivalry between ABVP and BCJD supporters. The campus remained tense throughout the day as rival groups traded allegations. Clashes, physical altercations and vandalism disrupted the atmosphere outside the university and delayed the counting process.

In the evening, reports circulated that BCJD candidates had won, prompting their supporters to celebrate outside the university gates. However, they later learnt that the results had not been officially declared.

BCJD subsequently alleged that the university authorities were acting under pressure from the state government to ensure the victory of ABVP candidates. The allegations triggered further tension outside the campus, with supporters of both organisations raising slogans against each other and engaging in physical confrontations.

Police personnel struggled to bring the situation under control. Tensions escalated further after reports emerged that a vehicle belonging to a BJD supporter had been vandalised. Additional police personnel were deployed in the area to prevent the situation from deteriorating.

Senior BJD leaders join protesters

As the counting remained incomplete until around 11 pm, senior BJD leaders joined BCJD supporters at the university. BJD leaders Sanjay Das Burma, Ananta Narayan Jena, Sushant Kumar Rout and Sulochana Das reached the spot and expressed solidarity with the protesting students.

Alleging deliberate attempts to cancel the election, Das Burma accused the state government of misusing the administrative machinery to influence the outcome.

He demanded the immediate declaration of results, questioning the delay despite BCJD's claim that its candidates had already won.

Das Burma also accused the police of acting in favour of the ruling party. He called upon the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister to ensure that the results were announced without further delay.

Highway blockade over delay at Utkal University

Meanwhile, the delay in vote counting at Utkal University triggered protests by members of the Congress' student wing and the All India Students' Federation (AISF).

Voting at the university had taken place peacefully during the day, with 2,609 students exercising their franchise.

As the results remained pending until around 10 pm, members of the Chhatra Congress and AISF took to the streets and blocked the national highway in front of the university. They raised slogans against the university authorities over the delay.

Police reached the spot and held discussions with the protesters. The demonstrators eventually withdrew the blockade after police intervention.