Bhubaneswar, Oct 12 (PTI) The BJD on Monday sought an investigation into the alleged demand by a university teacher for students’ personal details like home addresses and phone numbers from an official, ahead of the October 15 students’ union elections across Odisha.
In a viral audio clip, the assistant professor was purportedly heard taking Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s name to exert pressure on the officials of Rama Devi Women’s University here.
While the BJD questioned the “silence” of the BJP over the issue, the ruling party accused it of intervening in the student union elections to be held after eight years.
“The assistant professor at Rama Devi Women’s University had mentioned the chief minister’s name while attempting to collect confidential records of female students. It is a serious matter. The CMO and the BJP should issue a clarification,” BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty told reporters.
Lenin and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) president Ipsita Sahoo played the audio clip, a telephonic conversation between the teacher and an official, at a press conference here. PTI could not independently verify its authenticity.
They demanded that a high-level investigation be conducted into the matter as the CM’s name is being used in the viral clip.
Rama Devi Women’s University is the state capital’s lone varsity exclusively for female students.
“In the audio clip, an assistant professor is heard asking junior officials to provide some information on girl students, including their home addresses and phone numbers. When the official expressed reluctance, he is told that CM wants BJP-supported candidates to win the polls,” Mohanty said.
“The assistant professor also mentioned that money is not an issue for the BJP to win the students’ union poll at Rama Devi University,” Mohanty said.
The BJD leaders also raised questions about whether the polls could be considered legitimate when money was allegedly spent in violation of the Lyngdoh Commission’s guidelines on student elections.
While alleging gross irregularities, Sahu alleged that the chief minister, ministers and MLAs of the ruling party have been involved in the students’ union elections.
She claimed that the government had delayed poll preparations for two years before suddenly announcing that it would be held within a short window of 10 days. “What was the urgency?” the BCJD chief asked.
The government announced on October 5 that the students’ union elections in colleges and universities will be conducted on October 15.
Sahoo alleged that the chief minister’s name was being taken before university officials to influence the poll outcome.
Deputy opposition leader in the assembly Prasanna Acharya alleged that college principals are under pressure from the BJP government to ensure the victory of a particular group of students.
BJP MLA Ashok Mohanty, however, rejected the BJD charges and alleged that the opposition leaders were intervening in the campus polls which is unethical.
“Strong action needs to be taken against senior leaders who are poking their nose into the students’ union elections,” Mohanty said.
The state’s higher education department said 6,649 students are eligible to participate in the elections across 347 colleges and 13 state universities. PTI AAM AAM NN
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