Bhubaneswar, Aug. 2: The students' union election in the state is likely to be held in the second or third week of September. But, college campuses in the city are already warming up for the big day.

The poll fever is evident at Utkal University, where all the three major student bodies have been engaged in a show of strength over the past week.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) did their best to disrupt the visit of chief minister Naveen Patnaik to the Utkal campus, while the Biju Chhatra Janta Dal (BCJD) triumphantly mobilised hundreds of youths on the campus and accorded a gala welcome to the leader.

Huge hoardings welcoming the chief minister dot the Utkal University campus. Many of the hoardings feature pictures of the aspiring candidates, some new and others who could not contest the polls last year.

Elections in Utkal were cancelled last year following campus-related violence.

"Elections or no elections - we have been working for the benefit of the students throughout the year and they understand that well. We are confident that elections will be held this year and we will win with a thumping majority," said BCJD student leader Tanmay Swain.

Supporters of the ABVP and NSUI alleged that the BCJD, with the help of the ruling party, was trying to gag the real issues faced by the students.

Higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahi said student bodies must try to use their power in a constructive way. "We believe in democracy where there is room for dialogue. The manner in which some student bodies are behaving is not the right approach to protesting. Confrontation and conflict does not work in a healthy democracy. Student leaders must come forward with good proposals and suggestions along with concrete views for the betterment of students and society at large," said Panigrahi.

Poll fever is equally visible at other prominent colleges in the city. Plus Two classes for the fresh batch of students began on July 14 and banners and posters have come up welcoming the freshers. The potential student leaders are leaving no stone unturned to help the new students around the campus and organise welcome fests.

"We will be concentrating on the freshers. There are about 1,100 freshers on campus this year and we are trying to win them over in all possible ways," says Anubhav Mohanty from BJB College, who plans to contest the post of general secretary.

However, many candidates are maintaining a low profile and said they would continue to do so until the next few weeks.

A few others have chosen to keep their candidatures under cover until a suitable time.