Basic Science College not to go for polls this year

BHUBANESWAR: Basic Science College, a constituent college of the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), will not go for polls for second consecutive year this time. Bikash Chandra Panda, principal of the college, said they have taken this decision after holding a meeting in the college. “Students choose our college for its peaceful educational atmosphere.
Now election process and violence are coming together.We don’t want to dilute the campus atmosphere by allowing election,” he added. He said they also plan to select some good candidates with the help of the students to represent the students’ union of the college. The class representatives will choose a good candidate from the college to lead the union, he added.
City Women’s College is also planning not to hold election in the campus for third consecutive year this time. The college has been cancelling the polls since 2015.
“Our mid-term examinations of the students will start by October first week. If we allow the election, students cannot concentrate on their studies. So, it is not feasible for us to participate in the process,” said Suryasnata Satapathy, principal of the college.However, the Ekamra College will go to polls after four years as it cancelled polls since 2013 in the wake of large-scale violence then.
A group of students had ransacked the college after the authorities rejected nominations of two aspirants on October 1, 2013. They had vandalized the college property. Later the college cancelled the election. “We have seen peaceful atmosphere in the campus this year. Students are cooperating with us. If this situation prevails, we will hold the polls. We are ready for the election,” said Ashok Kumar Pradhan, principal of the college.
Jagdish Gajendra, an aspirant for the post of president in the Ekamra College, said he has already planned everything to start campaign for the polls. “We are so happy that the college authorities will conduct polls this year. We will maintain peace in the campus and carry out the campaign,” he added.
Two other colleges in city, which had cancelled polls last year for violence, will go for elections this year. These are BJB Autonomous College and Maharishi College of Natural Law. The authorities of the college said they may cancel the elections if they find violence in the campus.