Maharishi College of Natural Law in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 24: Some students of Maharishi College of Natural Law here today boycotted class and locked the institute’s main gate to protest against the authorities’ decision to cancel students’ union polls this year.

“One student shouting on the campus is not a good enough reason for the authorities to call off polls. We want the authorities to reconsider the decision that they had taken in haste on September 7. No student representative was consulted while taking the decision,” said Dusmant Parija, who heads the college students’ union.

Students’ union polls, which are scheduled on October 8 across the state, have not been held in this college for the last three years. A protester said they submitted a petition signed by 500 students demanding elections. However, the staff council decided against it yesterday.

“We are still hopeful that the authorities will change their mind,” said presidential candidate Samanta Sandeep Kumar Mishra.

Principal Madan Mohan Sahu said the decision to suspend polls for an indefinite period was final. “Our students are very disciplined. But, the possibility of outsiders creating disturbance on our campus cannot be ruled out. We will not go ahead with the polls and the students should understand that this is in their interest,” said Sahu, adding that police were regularly patrolling the campus.

He also said a complaint had been registered today against three students for demonstration. However, the complaint was later withdrawn as the students signed an undertaking that they would refrain from such activities.

Another protester said they would seek the intervention of local MLA Bijay (Badal) Mohanty, who also happens to be the president of the college governing body, to resolve the deadlock.

Utkal University authorities have also cancelled the elections this year, while Ravenshaw University officials have put the decision in abeyance. However, campaigning is in full swing in other colleges. Presidential hopeful of BJB Autonomous College Tanmay Rout is distributing saplings in an innovative way to connect with students. His rival Saheen Sareen, a second-year arts student, was spotted handing out biryani packets to woo voters.

Candidates will file nominations in their respective colleges on September 30, while the list of valid candidates, withdrawal of nominations and publication of a subsequent final list of contestants will be done on October 1. The “What I Stand For” meeting, where the candidates will explain their agenda, will be held on October 7. Polling and counting of votes are slated for October 8. The elected office-bearers will take oath the following day.