Bhubaneswar, Sept. 4: The students' wings of various political parties have started preparing for the college polls that are likely to be held next month at Utkal University.
The campus had turned violent on July 25 after two youths, including a first-year postgraduate student, were injured when some goons attacked them with a sharp weapon on the campus.
Sources said Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), the students' wing of ruling BJD, has nominated a second-year student from public administration department as its presidential candidate, while Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI) is likely to name a second-year postgraduate student of history as its candidate. However, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is yet to find a suitable candidate after varsity authorities denied admission of a youth who was strongly backed by the organisation.
Once considered as a strangle hold of NSUI, the university got a BCJD president last year after former president of students' wing of Congress Chinmay Sahoo, along with nine others, joined BJD in August last year.
Frequent group clashes have resulted in cancellation of polls twice in last four years. Students feel that there should be a peaceful atmosphere on the campus for a peaceful poll to take place this year. "Frequent clashes between students groups have taken a toll on the campus activities in the recent past. The authorities should ensure that no further violence takes place here, which might lead to cancellation of the polls," said Anurag, a student.
On the other hand, police have been keeping a tight vigil on the campus. While two platoons have been deployed, one police control room van is also in place for continuous patrolling.
"We have been maintaining a strict vigil," said inspector in-charge of Saheed Nagar police station Deepak Kumar Mishra.
PG council chairman Ranjan Kumar Bal said peace had been restored on the campus. "We have asked all the hostel wardens to conduct regular checks to prevent outsiders from staying there. Besides, we have also intensified checking at the campus entrances," said Bal.
