Poll cancellations trigger unrest at two Bhadrak colleges

Bhadrak/Bhandaripokhari: Cancellation of student union elections at Bhadrak Women’s College and Naami College in Bhadrak district triggered campus unrest Friday, prompting authorities to declare the institutions closed amid protests by students.

At Bhadrak Women’s College, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) candidates arrived in a procession Friday to file their nomination papers, only to learn that the election had been cancelled. They protested the decision and demanded that the polls be held.College principal Kalpana Lenka said the election had been canceled with the approval of the students’ union advisory committee, keeping the safety of female students in mind. A notice announcing the cancellation had been displayed on the college notice board Thursday.

However, BCJD president-candidate Dibyashree Diptishikha Nayak questioned the decision, saying there had been no untoward incident or clash on campus to justify cancellation of the polls. She also pointed out that elections were being held at Bhadrak College and Charampa College, demanding an explanation for the different treatment.

As protests and tensions among student groups continued, the college administration declared a sine die closure from Saturday until further orders. According to a notice issued by the principal’s office, classes, academic activities and routine administrative work will remain suspended, except for essential services.

At Naami College in Bhan daripokhari block, the student union election was canceled Thursday night, shortly before nominations were due to be filed Friday. The polls had been scheduled for October 15 and would have been the first in nine years. Principal Chitranjan Santra cited a sensitive and exceptional situation in the cancellation notice.

The college was declared closed sine die Friday, with heavy police presence on campus. Students raised slogans outside the main gate, but the situation returned to normal after police intervention.