Bhubaneswar: Altogether 341 higher education institutions, comprising 328 colleges and 13 universities, in Odisha will conduct direct elections for various posts of the student union. These institutions issued notifications in this regard on Wednesday.  

On the other hand, a total of 205 higher education institutions, including 202 colleges and three universities, will select their student leaders through the selection process, said the Higher Education Department.

The three universities that will adopt the selection process are Odia University, Sri Jagannath Sanskrit University, and Gangadhar Meher University. The remaining 13 universities will conduct direct elections to elect student leaders, it added.

As per the election schedule, candidates interested in contesting the student union elections can file their nominations between 10 am and 1 pm on October 9.

Scrutiny of nominations will be conducted from 2 pm to 4 pm on the same day. The list of valid nominations will be published by the respective higher education institutions at 5 pm on October 9.

Candidates wishing to withdraw their nominations may do so between 10 am and 1 pm on October 10. The final list of candidates will be published at 3 pm on October 10.

The ‘Why I Stand For’ meetings will be organised at the higher education institutions on October 14.

Polling will be held from 8 am to 2 pm on October 15. Counting of votes will take place on the same day after polling, followed by the declaration of the student union election results.

The newly-elected student leaders will take the oath of office on October 16.