Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Odisha Student Candidates File Nominations Amid Colorful Campus Processions
Students in Odisha filed papers to run for student council positions.
Some candidates arrived in colorful processions, with drums.
Groups linked to the BJP, BJD and Congress supported candidates.
Officials said nominations went smoothly overall.
However, elections were cancelled at four colleges after incidents.
Student unrest was also reported at two other colleges.
At three colleges, each post has only one nominee, so those candidates are set to win.
Voting is planned for October 15, and the new representatives are due to take their oaths the next day.
College elections had not been held since 2018.
Candidates filed nominations for student council posts at government-run colleges and universities across Odisha on Friday, October 9.
Student groups associated with the BJP, BJD and Congress backed candidates at public universities and major colleges.
Officials said nomination filing went smoothly overall, but elections were cancelled at four colleges following incidents.
Student unrest was also reported at two colleges in Jagatsinghpur and Balasore districts.
The elections are scheduled for October 15, followed by an oath-taking ceremony on October 16, after an eight-year gap.
- Who
- Candidates for student council posts, including those supported by student wings of the BJP, BJD and Congress.
- What
- Candidates filed nominations for student council elections; elections at four colleges were cancelled.
- When
- Nominations were filed on Friday, October 9; elections are scheduled for October 15 and the oath-taking ceremony for October 16.
- Where
- Government-run colleges and universities across Odisha.
- Why
- Candidates filed nominations to contest student council posts; the report says elections had been halted since 2018 because of factors including campus violence and the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Nomination date
- Friday, October 9
- Election date
- October 15
- Oath-taking ceremony
- October 16
- Gap since previous student union polls
- Eight years, according to the report
- Colleges where elections were cancelled
- Four: two in Bhadrak district and two in Jajpur district
- Colleges with single nominees for each post
- Dharmasala College in Jajpur district, Bhatli College in Bargarh and Champua College in Keonjhar