Odisha Student Union Elections: The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Friday won eight out of the 13 state universities in student elections held in Odisha after eight years. The opposition BJD-affiliated Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) secured 55 to 60 per cent of the seats. The NSUI, students' wing of the Congress, claimed that it won president posts in 30 colleges and stood second in another 80 institutes.
Student union elections in the state are not conducted on political lines, but parties back candidates. ABVP state secretary Diptimayee Pratihari claimed that the organisation secured victories in eight out of 13 state universities, winning eight president, eight vice-president, 10 secretary, and 11 assistant general secretary posts.
The ABVP swept the entire panel at Utkal University and won all posts except the president's position at Ravenshaw University. Pratihari said they were defeated at Rama Devi Women's University and accused rival organisations of using money and muscle power.
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In a post on X, the ABVP said the BCJD won the posts of president in five universities and the general secretary position in one. The post also mentioned that the NSUI secured victory in the general secretary's post in one varsity and none in the president position. "The candidates of BCJD have won in about 55 to 60 per cent of the unions across the state, including prestigious Rama Devi Women University and Ravenshaw University," BCJD president Ipsita Sahoo said, adding that the BJD-supported candidates won in most of the women's colleges in the state.
Poll Results Reflect The Faith Of Gen Z In PM Modi: CM Majhi
Reacting to the poll results, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asserted that the result reflects the faith of Gen Z in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Heartfelt congratulations to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for its historic and spectacular victory in student union elections across colleges and universities in Odisha," the chief minister said in a post on X. "This victory is a symbol of the unwavering faith and trust that the youth generation (Gen Z) holds in the esteemed Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji," Majhi said.
ABVP Victory Stern Response To Anti-National Forces: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also hailed the ABVP's victory in Odisha student union polls, terming it "a stern response to anti-national forces". It reaffirms that youth favour the 'nation first' ideology, he added. "Heartfelt congratulations to all office bearers of ABVP for achieving a resounding victory in the Odisha student union elections. First Panjab University, then Delhi University, and now in... Odisha, this victory of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad clearly conveys the message that the youth power of the country is firmly aligned with the 'Nation First' ideology, not with the powerful forces that spread falsehoods, illusions, and chaos," Shah said on X.
The elections were held in 346 colleges and 13 universities across the state. A total of 6,891 candidates were in the fray, of whom 1,398 were elected. Of them, 756 won unopposed, while 642 were elected through contests.
(With PTI Inputs)