Students campaign for campus election at BJB College in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 11: The students’ election frenzy has swept college campuses across the state with aspiring candidates leaving no stone unturned to woo students.

After offering a “helping hand” to freshers during the admission season and familiarising them to campus life, the candidates have now started door-to-door campaigning.

“We have started home campaigning two days ago. Although the election schedule hasn’t been declared, we are making most of this period to impress the prospective voters. We have collected the addresses of students and are visiting them personally as this is the best way to convince them. It makes for a lasting impact,” says Mahesh Prasad, a candidate of BJB College.

He is also planning to throw a feast for his supporters soon.

Some candidates have taken signature campaigns highlighting various issues concerning students.

Saheen Sareen, a presidential candidate of the same college, has been targeting hostel boarders and has distributed patties and trinkets among them.

“My friends and I want to raise various issues such as hostel maintenance and hygiene. I have also tried to make personal contact with students by visiting them in hostels and explain them my agenda. We need to complete most part of the campaigning before our exams commence from next week,” she said.

Election hopefuls said they were enjoying the poll fever on the campus.

“It is exciting to receive gifts from seniors. The other day I received an idol of Lord Jagannath. Earlier, the candidates had gifted chocolates and flowers to us,” said Pritish, a student of the college. At the Ramadevi Women’s College here, candidates have begun class campaigning.

“The candidates are talking individually to candidates. They have promised to solve regular problems like shortage of faculty members and repair of hostels,” said Sanghamitra, a student of Ramadevi Women’s College. The scene is equally lively at the Rajdhani College. Sambit Kumar Sahoo, a candidate, said that he is reaching out to the students through social networking sites and text messages.

Meanwhile, the Utkal University authorities have decided to cancel the elections this year in the wake of frequent clashes among student groups.

The authorities reasoned that it would be implementing the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) system for the first time this year and hence, any tension would hamper the academic environment of the varsity.

Similarly, at the Maharishi College of Natural Law, students are trying to check violence that might prompt the authorities to cancel the elections. Student union elections have not been held in the college for the past four years.

Higher education officials said that the election schedule will be announced soon and Lyngdoh Commission rules will be strictly followed.