Soubhagya Ravenshaw University president

Soubhagya Swain was elected  president of Ravenshaw University as results of students’ union elections were declared in colleges across Cuttack on Friday. The polls went off peacefully with no untoward incident.

Swain’s election, though, assumed political significance as he was purportedly propped by rebel BJD leader and suspended party MLA Pravat Biswal. Swain, however, expressed his allegiance to BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.

On the other hand, after over a decade in oblivion, ABVP, the students’ wing of the BJP, found its footing in the institution that it once considered its stronghold by bagging the post of general secretary through the victory of Abilash Panda.

At SB Women’s College, Jayanti Singh was elected president and Milan Mishra general secretary. The elections though fuelled tension for a brief period when disgruntled defeated candidates burnt effigies of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Cuttack MLA Debasish Samantray alleging manipulation in favour of the ruling party.

In Christ College, Sangram Keshari Sahoo was elected president uncontested while R Santosh Kumar Rao became the general secretary. Cuttack College elected Rakesh Sahoo as president and Sunil Rout general secretary while JKBK College saw Satyajit Sahani emerge victorious as president and Mir Samir Ali as general secretary.

At Stewart Science College, Rajesh Kumar Sahoo became president and Dipun Dalei general secretary of the students’ union.