Bhubaneswar: Colleges and universities across the state on Wednesday issued institution-level notifications for student union elections being held after years of disruption.While 13 universities will go to the ballot, three — Odia University, Jagannath Sanskrit University and Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) — will select student representatives and leaders instead of holding elections. Among the colleges, 328 will conduct election and 202 will select student leaders.GMU vice-chancellor Atul Kumar Pradhan said the university would continue its practice of selecting student leaders, followed since 1998. The last students’ union election at GMU was held that year, after which the university shifted to selecting student representatives and leaders.Under the higher education department’s guidelines, every department, except those offering self-financing courses, will select student representatives from among first-year UG and PG students who rank high on the merit list and have at least 75% attendance so far. These representatives will subsequently select the student leaders, Pradhan said.Meanwhile, the universities going to the polls have begun putting additional security measures in place, particularly in view of past incidents of violence.At Utkal University, authorities have announced a series of precautionary measures. The students will be required to carry university identity cards. Entry of outsiders will be strictly monitored, while more than 150 CCTV cameras will be installed across the campus. The university notified that the students enrolled in distance education or self-financing courses will not be eligible to contest the election. Vigil will also be maintained on candidates’ usage of social media for canvassing.A minor confrontation was, however, reported at Balangir College on the day after two groups of students differed over the entry of outsiders on the campus for election-related discussions. Arguments broke out between students supporting the BCJD and ABVP, following which police intervened and brought the situation under control. No police complaint was filed.DCP Saravana Vivek said security has been tightened across 13 colleges in Bhubaneswar. Police have coordinated with the college authorities and deployed personnel on the campuses to ensure peaceful polls. The entry of outsiders is being closely monitored, with action to be taken against unauthorised entrants.The police have also warned against spreading misinformation on social media. Strict action will be taken against those circulating abusive or threatening content, including AI-generated material, the DCP said. “We have enough forces in police stations to move into colleges if any illegal activity gets reported,” he said.Institutions have also been directed to deal with the vacant positions in student committees. If no nomination is received for a post, it will remain vacant for the session or may be filled through nomination by the principal at his or her discretion.