Bhubaneswar, Oct. 1: Tension prevailed at various colleges and universities across the state with the final list of students' union poll candidates being announced today.

At the Utkal University, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students' Union of India candidates had opposed the candidature of Mahesh Prasad, the presidential candidate fielded by the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal. The protesters alleged that Mahesh had a criminal case against him and hence he could not contest, according to the Lyngdoh Commission guidelines.

"The guidelines are being blatantly flouted," said Gayatri Satapathy, the ABVP's presidential candidate.

Students locked up the vice-chancellor for over four hours, closed the main gate and burnt tyres in protest against Mahesh's candidature. At least two platoons of police have been deployed on the campus to maintain law and order.

The Maharshi College also saw violence after the college authorities cancelled 30 nominations because of poor attendance. All candidates are required to have 75 per cent attendance. The protesters ransacked the college and damaged a car. The authorities have now closed the college until further notice.

At the Ravenshaw University, the ABVP presidential candidate Chhaya Kumari was disqualified for low attendance. The ABVP supporters protested alleging Chhaya's attendance had been manipulated.

In Baripada, the union poll at the MPC Junior College was cancelled after two groups of students clashed over the cancellation of nominations, forcing the authorities to close the college indefinitely.