Bhubaneswar, Oct 8: As student union elections return to Odisha’s campuses after eight years, aspiring candidates have stepped forward with promises to address student concerns, improve campus facilities and create a stronger platform for representation.

The candidates in various colleges have been announced. At Utkal University, Soham Agrawal and Asit Pradhan are ABVP aspirants for the posts of President while Subhankar Bhuyan is seeking the General Secretary’s post. On the other hand, while Swapnarani Pradhan is the presidential candidate for All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), Kasak Jena is in the fray for vice-president post at Ravenshaw University. Besides, Sambit Omprakash Patra and Suryansa Vidyasagar are contesting for Assistant General Secretary’s post from AIDSO.

For most of the aspirants, this election is less about positions and more about giving students a collective platform to raise their concerns.

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Understanding Students' Problem

“Our priority is to understand students’ problems and address them through an accessible platform,” said Soham Agrawal. Asit Pradhan said the return of elections could help bring back the focus on everyday issues of students.”

“We want to make student concerns a regular conversation with the university administration and work towards solutions,” he added.

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For Subhankar Bhuyan, representation should translate into visible action. “Students need someone to listen to their concerns and we will be focussing on issues affecting them students in the campus life,” he said.

According to Swapnarani, the elections offer an opportunity to rebuild student participation after years without an elected union. “Students need an elected platform through which academic, welfare and campus-related issues can be taken up collectively,” she said.

Kasak Jena said her focus would be on making student concerns more visible. “A student representative should remain connected with students and understand what they need.”

Improving Campus Experience

For others like Sambit Omprakash Patra, improving the campus experience is important for which regular interaction with students is needed. “We want to hear directly from students, identify their problems and work together for solutions,” he said.

The return of elections is a renewed opportunity for both the contestants and students. For many current students, the elections also mark a new experience.

“It is a new experience for many of us. Having an elected platform could give students a common voice and make it easier to raise issues that concern the wider campus,” said a student of Utkal University.

A few others are however, cautiously optimistic. “It is a positive sign that elections are returning, but the real test will be what happens after the representatives are,” said another the student from Ravenshaw University.

The administration has meanwhile stressed that the elections must be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the Lyngdoh Commission guidelines, with officials directed to prevent disorder and protect the academic atmosphere on campuses.

With nominations scheduled for Oct 9 and polling on Oct 15, more aspirants are expected to emerge in the coming days. For a generation of students that has largely grown up without elected campus unions, the returning polls represent not just a contest for posts, but a chance to rediscover a collective student voice.