Bhubaneswar, Sept. 21: With students’ union elections cancelled in three prominent co-education colleges in the capital, the focus has now shifted to the women’s colleges. Prospective leaders and their friends are planning to step up campaigning after filing their nominations on Thursday.

At City Women’s College, the aspirants are full of beans. Interestingly, the two candidates contesting for the post of college president belong to the same party.

“Once the list of valid candidates is out, we would start campaigning. I am contesting against my friend, Nazneen Begum. So, even if I don’t win, I will be happy. We have common friends and I am sure they will support both of us equally,” said Rupalin Dash, a third-year student and presidential candidate.

“Although the election schedule was announced quite late this year, we will leave no stone unturned to campaign for our friends,” said Rutuparna Jena, who is contesting for the post of vice-president.

“We are all excited. There is no jealously or animosity among the candidates,” she added.

The aspirants at Kamala Nehru Women’s College were seen huddled up in their respective groups, discussing strategies to make an impression on as many students as possible.

“There are a lot of things to do in very less time. Apart from the general issues in our college, I would approach each student and ask about their problems and demands. Usually, elections in women’s colleges are conducted peacefully. However, our principal is planning to write to the local police station for regular patrolling,” said Karishma Swain, a presidential aspirant.

Outside the Kamala Nehru Women’s College, two huge flex banners embossed with Karishma’s and her opponent, Jyotsna Lipi Nanda’s names and photos have been put up. “We had put them up last month to welcome freshers. We have been given clear instructions not to spend beyond Rs 5000,” Karishma said.

In sharp contrast, Ramadevi Women’s College campus was unusually quiet. “Our mid-semester exams are going on,” said Pragyan Priyadarshini, a second-year student, who was keenly studying the election schedule.

“I have not decided if I want to contest the elections but I am definitely interested,” she said.

Since the nomination papers are scheduled to be filed tomorrow, the last exam has been shifted to Saturday, said Ramadevi’s principal Tapti Das. “Many students are coming up to us with election-related queries. They are all very excited although it is not so palpable now due to exams. Visit the campus a couple of days later and you will be surprised to see their enthusiasm level,” Das said.

“It is heartening to see more and more women enter politics. But it would be wrong to say that the students’ union election is setting the trend. Very few women, who are elected as college leaders, tend to pursue politics as a profession. Nevertheless, the political attention has certainly been diverted to women’s colleges due to cancellation of polls at three major colleges,” the principal said.

Elections were officially cancelled at BJB (Autonomous) College, Maharishi College of Natural Law and Ekamra College due to repeated cases of pre-poll violence in the last two-and-half months.