Bhubaneswar, October 15: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has called on students to participate in student union elections peacefully and maintain discipline, urging them to stay away from violence, rumours and divisive activities.

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said student union elections are not merely a process of electing representatives but also a cornerstone of democracy and an important platform for nurturing future leaders.

He emphasised that the values, discipline and ideals students practise on campus today would help guide the future of Odisha and the country. Majhi also extended his best wishes to all students and candidates participating in the elections.

ମୋର ପ୍ରିୟ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀ ବନ୍ଧୁଗଣ! ଛାତ୍ର ସଂସଦ ନିର୍ବାଚନ କେବଳ ପ୍ରତିନିଧି ବାଛିବାର ଏକ ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟା ନୁହେଁ, ବରଂ ଏହା ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ରର ମୂଳଦୁଆ ଏବଂ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତର ନେତୃତ୍ୱ ଗଠନର ଏକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ ମାଧ୍ୟମ। ଆଜି କ୍ୟାମ୍ପସରେ ଆପଣମାନେ ଯେଉଁ ମୂଲ୍ୟବୋଧ, ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳା ଓ ଆଦର୍ଶର ଅଭ୍ୟାସ କରିବେ, ତାହା ଆଗାମୀ ଦିନରେ ଆମ ରାଜ୍ୟ ତଥା ଦେଶକୁ ଏକ ନୂତନ ଦିଗ୍‌ଦର୍ଶନ ଦେବ। ତେଣୁ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରକାର ହିଂସା, ଗୁଜବ ବା ବିଭେଦର ଶିକାର ନ ହୋଇ ଶାନ୍ତିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଓ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ ଭାବେ ଏହି ନିର୍ବାଚନରେ ସାମିଲ ହୁଅନ୍ତୁ। ସମସ୍ତ ଛାତ୍ର ଛାତ୍ରୀ ଓ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥୀଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ଆନ୍ତରିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା।

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 15, 2026

Polling is underway across 346 colleges and 13 universities in Odisha, with a total of 6,891 candidates contesting various posts. Voting began at 8 am and will continue until 2 pm. Counting is scheduled to begin after polling, with results expected to be announced by the evening.

Security has been tightened across campuses, with police deployed to ensure peaceful and orderly polling. However, reports of tension have emerged from some colleges and universities.

Among the candidates in the fray are 866 presidential candidates, 616 general secretary candidates and 176 vice-president candidates, contesting key student union positions.