Odisha Student Union Election Result 2026 : Student Elections Return After 8 Years, ABVP Sweeps 8 Universities

After a long wait of 8 years, the Student Union Election in Odisha was finally held on 15th October 2026. The election, conducted simultaneously in 13 universities and 346 colleges across the state, has not only revived campus politics but also become a litmus test for major political parties ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.A total of 6,891 students contested the elections, and the results declared on 16th October have surprised everyone.

Saffron Wave of ABVP, Captures 8 Universities

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing affiliated with the BJP and RSS, has emerged as the biggest winner in this election. ABVP has claimed victory in 8 out of 13 major universities. This includes Odisha's most prestigious Utkal University, where ABVP made a clean sweep of the entire panel. Apart from Utkal, ABVP candidates have been elected as President and Secretary in Sambalpur University, Berhampur University, and Fakir Mohan University.

According to the ABVP State Secretary, their dominance was not limited to universities, as their candidates won the President's post in more than 200 degree colleges. After this victory, Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself congratulated the winners on social media, saying, "This victory is a stern response by the youth to anti-national forces and shows Gen Z's faith in the Nation First ideology." Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also described it as a sign of the youth's trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJD's Student Wing BCJD Also Shows Strength

The student wing of Naveen Patnaik's party BJD, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), stood second in this election. BCJD has claimed victory in 4 universities, with the biggest win coming in Rama Devi Women's University, the largest women's university in Bhubaneswar.

Apart from this, BCJD claims that it has won in 55 to 60 percent of colleges across the state.

This election was also important for the BJD because it was their first major student election after losing power in 2024.

Congress's NSUI Tries to Make a Comeback

The Congress's student organization, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), was also trying to make a comeback in this election.

NSUI officially stated that it has registered victories for the President's post in 30 colleges, while it stood second in 80 colleges. Although NSUI did not get much success in major universities, its presence in the elections held after 8 years has given Congress a chance to regain a foothold on campus.

Controversies and Low Voting Also Remain a Talking Point

The election was not entirely peaceful. Reports of clashes between ABVP and BCJD workers came from many colleges. There were also allegations of ballot papers being torn and ruckus in some places. The most discussed was Berhampur University, where the voting percentage was less than 10 percent, showing apathy among students towards the election. Despite this, most colleges in the state recorded 60 to 70 percent voting, which is considered a good sign.

According to the Department of Higher Education, this election was conducted as per the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee. The NOTA option was also available in the election and it was mandatory for every candidate to be under 25 years of age. The last voting for the election was held 8 years ago in 2018, after which the election was postponed due to Corona and then administrative reasons.

What is the Political Message Before 2027 ?

Political analysts believe that the results of the student union elections are a trailer for the Panchayat elections to be held in 2027 and then the Assembly elections in 2029. ABVP's victory shows BJP's strong hold on campus, while BCJD's presence shows that BJD's youth vote bank is still intact. For Congress, NSUI's victory in 30 seats is a small but important beginning.