Banners of candidates fighting in the students’ union election. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15: Utkal University will go to the polls after a gap of two years.

Today, authorities of the varsity gave a nod to the elections after a high-level meeting, unleashing a wave of cheer among aspiring contestants and students. Earlier, elections in the varsity had been cancelled following incidents of violence and student unrest on the campus.

“The campus is peaceful now, and the academic environment is also fine. The council is convinced that the atmosphere is favourable for polls,” said postgraduate council chairman G.K. Panda. A seven-member advisory committee has been formed to oversee the students’ elections and ensure that polls are conducted peacefully.

Similarly, the district collector and police will be informed to make the necessary arrangements, said an official. The students appeared quite upbeat after the announcement of polls.

“We are very happy, and although the campaigning had already begun, we will try to reach out to all students in whatever little time is left. We have been with the students in the past two years and are confident that they will vote for us,” said Rajesh Raj Swain, an aspirant.

“In the absence of a students’ union, various issues and problems related to the students remain unattended. It has hampered the development of the varsity. It’s a very positive thing that the authorities have allowed the students to exercise their democratic rights. We also hope that the elections are conducted smoothly without any trouble,” said Manas Sahoo, another aspirant.

This year, polls in the varsity are expected to be all the more interesting as three former presidents of the Utkal University Students’ Union, backed by the Congress, have joined the BJD.

BJD leaders are also quite hopeful to hoist their flag in the university, which has long remained a Congress citadel.

However, the students’ leaders, who had been from the BJD right from the beginning, are hesitant to take in the new players for the fear of being sidelined. It is, therefore, apprehended that the disgruntled students might create trouble and play spoilsport.

Authorities have, however, clarified that any incidents of violence or unrest will lead to cancellation of the polls.

In another development, BJD students’ wing Biju Chhatra Janata Dal’s general secretary Sangram Patra joined the BJP, said: “Students, against whom we had fought all these years to protect the student interests, have suddenly joined the party and are now taking the centre stage,” said Patra.

The BJP hopes to cash in votes this year following the victory of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad win at the Delhi University.

The Congress candidates, too, are confident. “Although a few leaders have switched the parties, it would not affect their popularity in the college,” said Satyajit Patnaik.