Students of Ramadevi College demand re-nomination of a candidate in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22: Sixty-five per cent is too big a figure to ignore and candidates in the forthcoming college union elections at Utkal University are going all out to woo this vast constituency of women voters.

From setting up grocery stores on the campus to arranging miniature gymnasiums and appointing yoga instructors at hostels, candidates fighting the elections are promising everything possible to bag votes.

“Students are busy with their classes from 10am to 5pm. They hardly find time to go to the university gym. So, we are trying to get some basic equipment at the hostels so that the girls can exercise there,” said Rupamudra Sahu, a candidate vying for athletics secretary post at Utkal University.

Manas Kumar Sahu, contesting for the president’s post, said: “The hostels do not give breakfast to the students. I will ensure that they get healthy food in the morning. Moreover, the quality of the food served will also be improved,”

“A grocery shop has been set up close to the ladies hostel. This will help those who cook themselves. We will also ensure that hostels have their own libraries,” said Rajeshraj Swain, another presidential candidate. He promised renovation of the buildings, ambulance services and a NET coaching centre too.

“We will see that the university authority constructs another hostel for girls,” he said.

Suresh Saunta, a candidate for general secretary’s post, and his group recently cleared the drain outside the women’s hostel. “I will try to ensure sufficient lights on the campus, especially in front of the girls hostels. The students have often complained that they feel unsafe in the dark,” he said. Sarita Pradhan, who is vying for assistant general secretary post in the varsity, promised a medicine store on the campus.

Women students are also getting vocal about their regular problems.

“The toilets are so badly managed that students are prone to infections. This should be solved. There should be more lights on the campus. We also want that the time to enter hostels be extended from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm,” a student said.

While Utkal varsity is agog with poll preparations, uncertainty has gripped the Ramadevi College.

The staff council of the college today again held a meeting to decide whether the elections will be cancelled, but that remained inconclusive. Earlier in the day, a group of students burnt tyres outside the campus demanding re-nomination of Ashiya Jahan, whose candidature was cancelled because of poor attendance.

Situation was tense at Maharshi College of Natural Law as two groups of students from the junior college clashed over food packets.

“We have brought the situation under control,” said the college principal B.K. Sahoo.

Tension also gripped a few colleges in Rourkela following rejection of nomination papers of some candidates. However, the situation is now under control.

At Ravenshaw University, candidates are conducting classroom campaigning for over five hours to address maximum students.

Gyana Rout, an aspirant from Ravenshaw University, said the campaigning was being conducted in three shifts while a dedicated team has been formed to reach out to students of the varsity via various social networking sites.

Additional reporting by Vikash Sharma from Cuttack