What I Stand For’ meetings were held in all poll-bound colleges and universities across the State on Tuesday peacefully on the eve of the Students’ Unions elections scheduled for Wednesday.
The candidates presented their visions in their speeches before the voter-students. The meetings were held under the supervision of faculties of the colleges and universities.
The contestants of around 1,800 colleges came to the meeting venues in large processions of their supporters amid beating of dhols and sloganeering. The contestants put their best at the ‘What I Stand For’ meetings as it was crucial since students generally gauge candidates’ winning prospects from this.
Now, the candidates would make their last-minute efforts to convince students to vote for them on Wednesday.
On the other hand, elections in 32 colleges, including the Anandapur College in Keonjhar district, Baripada Government Women’s College in Mayurbhanj, Nirakarpur KBDAV College in Khordha, the Kupari Harekrushna Mahtab College in Baleswar and the Godabarish College in Banpur in Khordha have been cancelled due to student unrest.
As far as the Utkal University elections are concerned, the Advocate General (AG) refused to give opinion on the validation of candidature of presidential candidate Mahesh Prasad.
On Monday, the university authorities had sought the view of the AG after rival groups opposed the candidature of Prasad citing that he has criminal antecedents and a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him.
However, elections would be held in the university as per the schedule on Wednesday, said university PG Council Chairman Ranjan Kumar Bal. No student unrest has, meanwhile, been witnessed at the university.
Adequate security arrangements have been made at all poll-bound educational institutes to avert any
eventualities.