Bhubaneswar, Oct 16: The Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), the student wing of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), registered a major victory in the student union elections at Rama Devi Women’s University (RDWU), winning the president’s post and most other key positions. The elections were held after a gap of eight years.

BCJD-backed candidate Sonali Behera was elected president, while Sai Arpita Mahapatra, also backed by the organisation, won the vice-president’s post. Other successful candidates included Laxmipriya Biswal as general secretary, Sudeshna Khuntia as joint general secretary, Ankita Mallik as sports secretary, Rupali Pani as drama secretary, Pritismita Barik as Science Society secretary, and Samikshya Suman as DSA secretary.

Tension grips campus as vote counting sparks clashes

The election process was marred by tension and repeated confrontations throughout the day, with the situation remaining volatile until late at night. Incidents of alleged bomb attacks, pushing and shoving, verbal abuse, and clashes were reported around the university campus.

Although polling concluded at 2 pm, the results had not been officially declared even late at night due to repeated disruptions during vote counting. Police faced considerable difficulty managing the situation, and a riot-control vehicle was also deployed on the campus.

Earlier in the day, police detained Ipsita Sahu, president of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal. Police reportedly faced considerable resistance while attempting to escort her into a police van.

Dispute over President’s post triggers fresh clash

Tensions escalated in the evening after reports circulated that the BCJD-backed candidate had won the president’s post. BCJD supporters began celebrating the reported victory, and the news spread rapidly across media and social media platforms. Supporters were also seen bursting firecrackers to mark the occasion.

However, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) challenged the celebrations, arguing that vote counting had not been completed and questioning how a candidate could be declared the winner before the process concluded.

The disagreement soon escalated into heated arguments and commotion outside the campus.

Amid the confusion, Professor Madhusmita Pati, chairperson of the university’s Postgraduate Council, released a video statement clarifying that vote counting was still underway. She said the counting process had been suspended after agents representing one of the groups left their seats, disrupting the proceedings.

University authorities subsequently approached the main gate and appealed to all candidates and their counting agents to return so that the process could resume.

Counting restarted but was interrupted again during the fourth round when an agent of one of the candidates reportedly left the counting centre. The process was halted once more, further aggravating tensions.

Political leaders arrive as Standoff Intensifies

The dispute soon extended beyond the student organisations, drawing leaders from the BJD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the university’s main entrance.

ABVP supporters gathered outside one gate, while BCJD supporters assembled near another. Slogans, including “Go Back” from the BCJD side and “Down Down” from the ABVP side, were heard as tensions mounted.

Senior BJD leader and former minister Sanjay Das Burma, Bhubaneswar Central MLA Ananta Narayan Jena, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Mayor Sulochana Das, and young BJD leader Sophia Alam were among those who arrived at the spot to extend their support to the student wing.

The BJD questioned why counting approximately 1,500 votes was taking so long, adding to the pressure on the authorities to complete the process.

Police deployed as situation remains volatile

The BCJD and ABVP camps repeatedly came face to face throughout the night, keeping the situation tense both inside and outside the university. Police personnel were deployed in large numbers around the campus to prevent further escalation.

Despite polling having ended hours earlier, repeated interruptions to vote counting delayed the official declaration of results, turning the student union election into a prolonged confrontation involving student organisations and political leaders.

The university remained under heavy police security late into the night as authorities struggled to maintain order and complete the counting process.