The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and its student wing, Biju Yuva Chhatra Janata Dal, presented a memorandum to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati concerning the prolonged delay in appointing Vice-Chancellors for 13 universities in Odisha. The BJD delegation met the governor at Lok Bhavan, highlighting concerns about the deterioration of higher education in the state under the current administration. The party emphasized the adverse impact of the absence of full-time Vice-Chancellors on academic governance, institutional leadership, research activities, and student welfare.
The BJD criticized the amendments made by the BJP-led state government to the University Amendment Act in 2024 and 2025, alleging that these changes have compromised the transparent and merit-based process for selecting Vice-Chancellors. The party expressed reservations about the lack of clearly defined criteria for shortlisting candidates under the revised provisions. Despite assurances from the government, no appointments have been finalized as of now, prompting the BJD to threaten protests if the vacant Vice-Chancellor positions remain unfilled by the end of February 2026.
The BJD also accused the ruling BJP of failing to fulfill its promise to establish an Odisha Adivasi Swabhiman University for the preservation and promotion of tribal art, culture, and languages. Demanding the immediate appointment of Vice-Chancellors, restoration of transparency in the selection process, and protection of academic integrity in Odisha’s higher education institutions, the BJD underscored the urgency of addressing the challenges facing the state’s education sector.
