Bhubaneswar, Aug. 30: Smart classrooms to free Wi-Fi on campus, convention halls, better hostel facilities, filling up of vacant teaching posts, good libraries - these are just a few of the promises that student leaders have for the electorate ahead of next month's students' union elections.
Colleges and universities across the state have become a hotbed of activities as temperature soars with less than a month left for the September 23 elections. Aspirants and student leaders are leaving no stone unturned to woo the electorate as they look to secure the students' bodies for their respective organisations.
Polls for the Utkal University students' union will also go ahead amid speculations of trouble. The varsity has had to deal with violence ahead of students' union elections in the past, leading to the polls being cancelled in 2012 and 2013.
The varsity authorities have issued a notice to strictly comply with Lyngdoh Committee guidelines. They have also warned that violations would lead to the cancellation of the candidate's nomination.
Candidates will have to file their nominations on September 16 and verification will take place on the same day. There will also be a "What I Stand For" discussion on September 22 where all candidates will be given a platform to tell the students their plans for the varsity if they are elected.
Voting will continue from 8am to 2pm and results will be announced between 2pm and 6pm.
Leaders of political organisations have pulled out all stops to woo the students. Some have put up banners with their names and photographs. Many candidates have splashed out on include flex banners, while some others have gone a step further by setting up colourful welcome gates.
The RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has fielded Ratan Digal for students' union president, Jyotiranjan Behera as vice-president and Rajshree Phuhan as general secretary. The Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) has named Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra for the president's post, Indrajit Sahoo for vice-president and Manoranjan Swain for general secretary.
Former Bhadrak Autonomous College students' union president Mohapatra wants to solve the problem of water shortage in hostels and provide streetlights on the campus. "Our aim is to enhance security on campus along with ensuring that only ones with vehicle passes are allowed on the premises," he said.
"We will work together for the varsity's all-round development and we are trying to convince the newcomers on the same lines. We have been working for the benefit of the students throughout the year and we hope that they understand that," said BCJD vice-president Rajeshraj Swain, a PhD scholar at the varsity.
Once considered a stronghold of the Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the BCJD wrested control after NSUI heavyweight Chinmay Sahoo defected in 2014.
The NSUI has nominated Soumya Ranjan Jena for the post of president, Padma Charana Nayak for vice-president and Akhiles Yadav for general secretary as it looks to wrest back control.
"We are making personal contact with the students by visiting them in hostels and explaining them my agenda. We need to complete most of the campaigning ahead of the elections," said Jena.
Election hopefuls said they were enjoying the poll fever on campus. Newcomers are also enjoying being in the spotlight as candidates vie for their votes.
"They have promised to solve the problems we face on a regular basis. The scene is very lively on campus," said Ashutosh Dash, a student.
