NEW DELHI : The ABVP on Friday, October 16, claimed it won student elections in eight out of 13 state universities in Odisha after an eight-year hiatus. The RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) state secretary Diptimayee Pratihari claimed that the outfit had emerged victorious in eight out of 13 state universities, winning eight president, eight vice-president, 10 secretary, and 11 assistant general secretary posts.
As reported by PTI, she alleged that the student organisation had a sweeping win at Utkal University and won all posts except the president’s position at Ravenshaw University.
Reacting to the results, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday referred to the ABVP’s victory as “a stern response to anti-national forces”, saying that it reaffirms that youth favour the ‘nation first’ ideology.
“Heartfelt congratulations to all office bearers of ABVP for achieving a resounding victory in the Odisha student union elections. First Panjab University, then Delhi University, and now in Odisha, this victory of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad clearly conveys the message that the youth power of the country is firmly aligned with the ‘Nation First’ ideology, not with the powerful forces that spread falsehoods, illusions, and chaos,” Shah said on X.
State Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the result reflects the “faith of Gen Z in Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.
Student Elections Held After 8-Year Gap in Odisha
Student elections in Odisha were conducted after an eight-year gap across 346 colleges and 13 universities. A total of 6,891 candidates were in the fray, but only 1,398 were elected.
Of the 1,398 elected candidates, 756 won unanimously, while 642 were elected through contests.
The opposition BJD-affiliated Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) said its candidates bagged 55 to 60 per cent of the seats.
“We have won in about 55 to 60 per cent of the college unions across the state, including prestigious Rama Devi Women University and Ravenshaw University,” BCJD president Ipsita Sahoo said.
The Congress-backed NSUI, on the other hand, alleged that it won president posts in 30 colleges and stood second in another 80 institutes.
