Voting for student union elections in Odisha concluded on Wednesday after a gap of eight years, with polling held across 343 colleges and 12 universities in the state. The voting process began at 8 am and continued until 2 pm, as students cast their votes to elect their campus representatives.
A total of 866 candidates contested for the post of president, including 828 candidates from colleges and 38 from universities. Students also voted to elect vice-presidents and general secretaries across the participating educational institutions.
The counting of votes began at 2 pm under tight security arrangements on college and university campuses. Election results are expected to be announced by Wednesday evening, while the winning candidates are scheduled to take the oath of office on October 16.
College-Wise Voter Turnout
Polling witnessed varying levels of participation across educational institutions in Odisha. According to the figures available until 2 pm, the voter turnout at several colleges was as follows:
- Rajdhani College: 30%
- Kendrapara College: 74%
- Bhadrak Autonomous College: 50%
- Shailendra Narayan College: 80.29%
- Olavar College: 85.81%
- Aali College: 60%
- Redhakhol Bhima Bhoi College: 86.9%
- Panposh Government College: 48%
Redhakhol Bhima Bhoi College recorded the highest turnout among the institutions listed, with 86.9% of eligible students casting their votes. Olavar College followed with a turnout of 85.81%, while Shailendra Narayan College recorded 80.29%.
866 Candidates in the Presidential Race
The presidential election witnessed 866 candidates across colleges and universities. Of these, 828 contested in colleges, while 38 were in the fray at universities.
For the post of vice-president, 716 candidates contested, including 679 from colleges and 37 from universities.
Similarly, 616 candidates contested for the post of general secretary. These included 593 candidates from colleges and 23 from universities.
The elections provided students with an opportunity to choose their representatives and participate in campus-level democratic processes after a prolonged gap.
Focus on Major Educational Institutions
The results from prominent educational institutions, including Rama Devi Women’s University, Utkal University and BJB Autonomous College, have drawn particular attention across the state.
With counting underway, students and political observers are closely monitoring the results to determine which candidates will secure key positions in the respective campuses.
Security arrangements have been tightened across colleges and universities to ensure that the counting process proceeds smoothly and peacefully.
The announcement of results by Wednesday evening is expected to bring clarity to the outcome of the elections. The winning candidates will take their oath of office on October 16, formally beginning their tenure as student representatives.