Bhubaneswar: From campus safety and crumbling infrastructure to hostel food and monsoon waterlogging, student leaders are turning everyday campus woes into poll promises ahead of the Oct 15 students’ union elections. But as campaigning gathered pace across the twin cities on Saturday, the release of final candidates’ lists also triggered protests at several colleges, with aggrieved aspirants alleging unfair rejection of nominations over attendance shortage.A day after nominations were filed, candidates owing allegiance to AIDSO, NSUI, ABVP, BCJD and independents stepped up their outreach, promising to address students’ everyday concerns. At Utkal University, campus security, women’s safety and infrastructure have emerged as key campaign issues. Presidential aspirants Abhiram Mishra and Surya Narayan Nayak flagged inadequate security amid porous campus boundaries.“This is such a massive campus with porous boundaries, but the university does not have adequate security. The road to the library, for instance, has no lights even though the facility remains open till 8.30 pm. Besides, many classroom ceilings are now leaking,” Nayak said.At Rama Devi Women’s University, presidential aspirant Sonali Behera has made a foot overbridge outside the campus a key demand, citing the risks students face while crossing the busy road. Candidates at BJB Autonomous College, Rajdhani College and Kamala Nehru Women’s College have highlighted the need for better academic facilities, cleaner surroundings and safer campuses.At Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, waterlogging during the monsoon, vacant teaching posts, poor internet connectivity and inadequate dustbins feature in the campaign. Abhimanyu Nayak, a candidate, said large parts of the campus get inundated during rain, making movement difficult for students, teachers and other staff.At Shailabala Women’s College, aspirants have flagged hostel conditions, approach roads and sanitation, while candidates at Christ College have raised concerns over non-functional fans, the lack of air-conditioning in classrooms and dilapidated toilets.Meanwhile, the release of final candidates’ lists triggered protests over rejection of nominations. At Ekamra College in Bhubaneswar, BCJD members staged a sit-in outside the main gate, alleging discrimination in the scrutiny process. They claimed all their candidates’ nominations for various posts in the students’ union and other associations had been rejected, while those of ABVP aspirants were accepted.College authorities maintained that nominations were cancelled on eligibility grounds, including attendance shortages, irrespective of political affiliation. The protesters demanded access to attendance registers to verify the college’s claims.At Shailabala Women’s College, girl students blocked the road, alleging manipulation of attendance records to disqualify ABVP-backed candidates. They claimed they had attended classes regularly but were rejected on attendance grounds. A similar protest erupted at Indira Gandhi Women’s College in Cuttack, where students burnt tyres to block the road and demanded cancellation of the election.
