Political tensions have intensified in Odisha ahead of the October 15 student union elections—the first in nearly eight years.
BJP Yuva Morcha State President Abhilash Panda launched a sharp attack on the BJD in Bhubaneswar, alleging that the opposition party failed to field candidates in nearly half of the state's colleges.
Panda claimed this weakness exposes the BJD's diminishing acceptability among students. He further criticized the previous BJD administration for suspending campus elections for close to a decade, arguing that the long hiatus severely infringed upon students' democratic rights.
Panda urged students to participate enthusiastically and peacefully in the upcoming polls across 13 universities and 328 colleges, expressing hope that past mistakes will not be repeated.
With the nomination phase finalized and campaigning heating up, the BJD has yet to officially address the claims regarding its missing candidates. All eyes remain fixed on campuses as Odisha's youth prepare to recast votes and reshape campus politics.