Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], October 16 (ANI): Tension prevailed at Rama Devi Women's University in Bhubaneswar during the counting of votes for the student union elections, with police personnel deployed to maintain law and order.

Speaking to ANI on Friday, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) general secretary Sagarika Samant expressed concern over the situation. While welcoming the conduct of student elections after a prolonged gap, she said she feared a return to violence and clashes during the election period.

'On one hand, we are happy that these elections are finally happening after such a long time; yet, on the other, there is a sense of distress. We fear a return to the hooliganism, physical altercations, and violence that often plague election periods,' Samant said.

She also questioned why the results for other colleges across Odisha had been declared while those of Rama Devi Women's University remained pending. Alleging political interference, she claimed that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi wanted to bring the university under his control.

'Consider this: results for all other colleges in Odisha have been declared, but not for Rama Devi (Women's University). This is because Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi wants Rama Devi to fall under his control,' she alleged.

Samant further alleged that the delay was linked to the ruling dispensation's apprehension of defeat and claimed that disturbances were being deliberately created.

'They know defeat is imminent, and that is why they are resorting to these tactics. They are creating disturbances,' she added.

Meanwhile, Samiksha, a candidate for the post of DSA Secretary, said the final counting process had been halted and that representatives from both sides, along with their president and secretary, had been called inside to resume the count.

'The final counting process was halted, and our two opponents, along with our President and Secretary, have been called inside to resume the count,' she said.

Samiksha said there might have been a misunderstanding behind the stoppage and expressed hope that the matter would be resolved after the representatives entered the counting area.

'There was some misunderstanding, or perhaps something else occurred, but our President and Secretary have gone in, so everything should be resolved there,' she said.

However, she alleged that candidates had faced unfair treatment since the beginning of the election process.

'Everything has been unfair from day one. We are being treated unfairly, and the world is watching everything that is unfolding here,' Samiksha added. (ANI)