Notwithstanding some pre-election violence reported from some educational institutions, all the 51 degree colleges, including Ravenshaw University in Cuttack district will have elections on October 14 to form their respective students’ union.
Following last month’s announcement by the higher secondary department, the college and university authorities on Saturday issued notifications for the elections. While October 5 has been fixed for the last day to file nomination papers, the following day has been slated for withdrawal.
Looking at recent disturbances in Ravenshaw University and M. S. Law College in the city, elections in these two institutions were doubtful. However, the authorities after discussing the law and order situations with the police, decided to hold the elections with a rider that if situations deteriorate, the elections would be put off.
Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahi has made it clear that the college authorities are empowered to cancel elections if proper atmosphere did not prevail inside the campuses.
Besides the 37 degree colleges located in the jurisdiction of Cuttack (Rural) police, elections would be held in all the 14 colleges, including Ravenshaw University of Cuttack city.
