Bhubneswar– University and college campuses across Odisha were abuzz with political fervor on Friday as more than 8,500 candidates officially filed their nomination papers, signaling a historic resurgence of campus democracy. The massive turnout officially ends an eight-year hiatus on student union elections in the state, injecting unprecedented energy into local higher education institutions. According to official data released by the Higher Education Department, a staggering 8,325 nominations were filed in colleges alone, alongside hundreds of additional filings across 13 major universities—including Utkal University, Rama Devi Women’s University,Ravenshaw University and Sambalpur University,
The final day of submissions turned campuses into energetic political arenas as supporters of major student groups—such as ABVP, BCJD, NSUI, and AISF—held massive rallies with traditional drums. Student leaders like Biswajit Patra (ABVP) and Sanghamitra Jena (AISF) highlighted agendas ranging from restoring democratic rights to advocating for student welfare and filling vacant faculty positions.
| Nomination & Scrutiny | October 9, 2026 |
| Withdrawal Deadline | October 10, 2026 |
| ‘Why I Stand For’ Meeting | October 14, 2026 |
| Official Polling & Counting | October 15, 2026 (8 AM–2 PM) |
| Oath-Taking Ceremony | October 16, 2026 |
To prevent a repeat of the unrest that led to the 2017 suspension, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s administration enforced a zero-tolerance policy toward campus violence. Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj noted the compressed 10-day election window aims to limit friction, while police have restricted campus access to outsiders.
