Naveen Patnaik questions Odisha government’s 'silence' on Andhra's poll notification for disputed Kotia villages

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) emerged victorious in seven of Odisha’s 13 universities in the recent student union elections, marking the first campus polls in eight years. The Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), the student wing of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), secured victories in four universities. The results reflect a competitive landscape, with the ABVP claiming more than 60% of the 325 colleges that participated in the polls. However, the final college-level tally was not immediately available. The elections took place on Thursday and featured intense campaigning and mobilisation of first-time voters. Both the ABVP and BCJD engaged in a keen contest across campuses. Voter turnout was low in several universities, with some, like Berhampur University, reporting less than 10% participation. The higher education department noted that 6,649 candidates contested elections across 325 colleges and 13 state universities. At Utkal University in Bhubaneswar, the ABVP secured seven of the nine posts, including president and general secretary. The Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) managed to capture the vice-president and joint general secretary positions. The elections occurred amid allegations by the BCJD that the government had cancelled polls in certain colleges where the BJD’s student wing was stronger. Opposition parties accused the ruling BJP of influencing the contest in favor of the ABVP. Clashes were reported at multiple colleges and universities during the election period. Student union elections were last conducted in 2017. They were disrupted the following year due to Cyclone Titli and did not take place in 2019 amid campus violence. The ongoing suspension continued until the pandemic further delayed the process. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi criticized the previous BJD government for suspending student elections for political reasons and denying students their democratic rights. He stated that his government fulfilled its commitment to the student community by conducting the elections and restoring the spirit of democracy on campuses. Majhi congratulated the newly elected representatives, expressing confidence in their ability to uphold the trust of fellow students and strengthen democratic values. BJD president Naveen Patnaik highlighted the unity and determination of the state’s youth, accusing the BJP government of attempting to influence the elections unfairly. He commended the efforts of BJD and BCJD members who resisted the BJP government’s alleged conspiracies. Patnaik urged students to focus on maintaining a healthy academic environment. Former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged that success and failure are part of life, expressing hope that the elected student leaders would help maintain the academic environment in their institutions and grow into responsible individuals. The campus polls offered political parties an opportunity to strengthen their connection with Gen Z voters ahead of upcoming panchayat and urban body elections. The elections hold institutional importance, as the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act, effective since April 2025, allows the president and secretary of a university students’ union to become members of the university’s Senate. Naveen Patnaik questioned the Odisha government’s response to Andhra Pradesh’s announcement of panchayat elections in three disputed villages of Kotia in Koraput district. He suggested the BJP’s reliance on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) might explain the government’s silence on the issue. The dispute over the Kotia cluster of villages dates back to 1968, with the Supreme Court directing both states to maintain the status quo. A new suit filed by Odisha in January 2022 remains under consideration. Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated the government is ready to counter any provocative moves by neighboring states. He emphasized that Kotia gram panchayat is an integral part of Odisha and its people align with the state. The Koraput district collector has been instructed to monitor the situation closely to prevent Kotia from becoming part of Andhra Pradesh’s election process. Congress Legislature Party Leader Rama Chandra Kadam called for immediate government action, alleging the Odisha BJP government’s double standards allowed Andhra Pradesh to assert claims over the region.