Campus democracy is back in Odisha. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced on Sunday, October 18, 2026 that student union elections — suspended for 8–9 years under the previous government — have been revived, marking the fulfilment of a key pre-election promise made by his party.

A nearly decade-long silence on campus ballots

Student union elections in Odisha's colleges and universities were effectively put on hold during the long tenure of the BJD government led by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who held office from 2000 to 2024. The reasons cited over the years ranged from concerns over campus violence to administrative complexities — but for students and youth organisations, the suspension amounted to a democratic gap that lasted the better part of a decade.

Demands for restoration were a recurring feature of campus politics in Odisha's higher education landscape throughout this period. The issue found a prominent place in BJP's 2024 Odisha election manifesto, which explicitly committed to reviving student union elections as part of a broader pitch to re-engage the state's youth with formal democratic processes.

BJP's 2024 manifesto promise, now delivered

BJP's landslide in the 2024 Odisha assembly elections ended 24 years of BJD rule and brought Majhi to power in June 2024. The restoration of student elections was among the party's specific, trackable campaign commitments — the kind of promise that either gets delivered or becomes a political liability. By formally reviving the polls, the Majhi government checks that box and hands the BJP a tangible governance credential heading into the next phase of its term.

The move fits a wider pattern of new state governments using early governance wins to demonstrate accountability to their voter base, particularly among younger constituents who were directly affected by the suspension.

What students and colleges watch next

The announcement sets the stage for elections across government and government-aided colleges statewide, though the precise rollout timeline, election guidelines, and the scope of institutions covered will be closely watched. Managing a return to campus electoral activity after nearly a decade of dormancy carries real administrative challenges — and the state government will need to ensure the process unfolds without the incidents of violence that had, in part, fuelled the original suspension.

For Odisha's college students, the ballot box is finally back. Whether this revival translates into a genuinely empowered student voice — or simply a ritual exercise — will be the real test in the months ahead.