Bhubaneswar: The student union elections eve was marred by violence on Utkal University campus on Wednesday as the ABVP and BCJD supporters clashed over the alleged entry of outsiders during the ‘Why I Stand For?’ meeting, injuring a member each from both the outfits and triggering tension.Supporters of the rival outfits allegedly hurled chairs and traded abuses at each other and faculty members present at the university’s Convocation Hall, where the meeting was scheduled to be held.Both the student outfits accused each other of instigating the violence. Later police commissioner S Dev Datta Singh and Bhubaneswar deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Saravana Vivek M visited the university and pacified the students. Additional personnel have been stationed on the campus to prevent further disturbances, said the DCP. The ‘Why I Stand For?’ meeting finally got underway around 1.30 pm amid tight security.Ahead of the meeting, aspirants from various student outfits arrived at the venue in elaborate processions. Tension flared when the ABVP and BCJD members accused each other of bringing outsiders, triggering a confrontation that later escalated into violence, during which plastic chairs were allegedly thrown.BCJD member Deepak Barik alleged that the ABVP supporters, accompanied by BJP Yuva Morcha workers, instigated the clash to derail the elections, claiming that any major violence could force the university to close sine die. The ABVP denied the charge, with its leader Diptimayi Pratihari accusing the BCJD of orchestrating the violence out of fear of losing the polls.The BCJD members, however, refused to participate in the programme without a firm assurance from the police on campus security.Commissioner Singh assured the students that outsiders would be removed from the campus and that steps would be taken to ensure peaceful and impartial polling. He appealed to everyone to maintain peace and abide by the law. The DCP directed those not enrolled at the university to leave the venue and asked the aspirants to go ahead with the meeting under police watch.Later in the evening, representatives and candidates of various student outfits met Utkal University vice-chancellor Chandi Prasad Nanda, in the presence of the deputy commissioner of police and senior university officials, to ensure peaceful polling on Thursday. The student groups agreed to cooperate with the university and police administration in maintaining law and order.Tensions have been simmering at the university for the past two days following claims that a bomb was hurled near a hostel, an allegation the university administration has denied. The violence created panic on the campus and raised concerns over security arrangements during the election campaign.