Bhubaneswar: Stepping up its attack on the ruling BJP over students’ union elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday alleged that Ministers and MLAs are pressurising college principals and university Vice-Chancellors to ensure victory of ABVP candidates.
Addressing a press conference, BJD leaders claimed the BJP has adopted “undemocratic means” to win campus polls.
“The BJP is undermining democracy in the country and is now attacking democracy in campus politics as well. Its Ministers and MLAs are directly influencing college and university authorities for favourable results,” the party said.
Leader Bhrugu Buxipatra alleged that the government declared the poll schedule only after BJP-backed student outfits finished their groundwork. He further claimed that elections have been deliberately avoided in many institutions where the BJP fears defeat.
“The government is not conducting polls in several colleges and universities because it knows its student wing cannot win. Ruling party leaders are arm-twisting principals and VCs to favour ABVP,” Buxipatra alleged.
BJD Yuva Janata Dal president Chinmoy Sahu questioned the cancellation of elections in 206 colleges and said the government is itself violating Lyngdoh Commission guidelines despite claiming to follow them.”The Higher Education Minister must explain why elections have been cancelled in 206 colleges,” Sahu said.
BCJD president Ipsita Sahu said campus elections earlier used to be held in an atmosphere of brotherhood, but the situation has changed under BJP rule.
“While the BJP is being seen as an anti-Gen Z party across the country, in Odisha it is trying to deprive the younger generation of its democratic rights. We warn the government to mend its ways, otherwise BCJD will hit the streets,” she said.
