Odisha Student Elections: Amit Shah Hails ABVP Victory After Eight-Year Gap

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday congratulated the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on its victory in Odisha’s student union elections, saying the results showed that the country’s youth supported the ideology of ‘Nation First’.

In a post on X, Shah praised ABVP activists for their performance, highlighting the organisation’s victories in 13 universities across Odisha. He linked the result to its earlier performances at Panjab University and Delhi University, describing the latest win as a strong response from young voters to forces he accused of spreading lies, confusion and anarchy.

“The youth power of the country stands firmly not with the forces spreading lies, illusions, and anarchy, but with the ideology of ‘Nation First’,” Shah wrote, adding that the victory was a response to anti-national forces.

ओडिशा के छात्रसंघ चुनावों में मिली प्रचंड जीत के लिए @ABVPVoice के कार्यकर्ताओं को हार्दिक बधाई।

पहले पंजाब यूनिवर्सिटी, फिर दिल्ली यूनिवर्सिटी और अब ओडिशा के 13 विश्वविद्यालयों में ABVP को मिली यह शानदार जीत स्पष्ट संदेश है कि देश की युवा शक्ति झूठ, भ्रम व अराजकता फैलाने वाली ताकतों के साथ नहीं, बल्कि ‘राष्ट्र प्रथम’ की विचारधारा के साथ मजबूती से खड़ी है।

परिषद की यह जीत देशविरोधी ताकतों को युवाओं का करारा जवाब है।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 17, 2026

Odisha held student union elections on October 15, ending an eight-year gap.

Polling took place across 337 higher education institutions in the state. The elections recorded an overall voter turnout of 56%.

According to available data, 3,610 candidates won across the institutions, including 3,453 in colleges and 157 in universities.

The results mark the return of student union elections across Odisha’s higher education institutions after years without polls.

Also Read: From Clay To Consciousness: Decoding Goddess Durga’s Idol Through Ancient Indian Scriptures