Cuttack: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday claimed that his govt had restored campus democracy in Odisha after nearly a decade and asserted that the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)’s electoral performance reflected the youth’s support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development policies.Addressing a felicitation ceremony for the newly elected student representatives at Cuttack’s Indoor Stadium, Majhi alleged that the previous BJD govt had kept student union elections suspended since 2017, effectively stalling the democratic process on campuses for years.The CM said it was ironic that the senior leaders of the former ruling party, who had begun their political careers through student movements, had remained silent over the suspension of elections. He alleged that the then higher education minister had failed to raise his voice against the decision because the leadership lacked faith in the student community.Recalling the circumstances surrounding his govt’s decision to hold the elections, Majhi claimed that pressure had been exerted on it to postpone the polls. He said arguments had been advanced that the political atmosphere in the country was not conducive and that Generation Z was dissatisfied.However, Majhi said his govt had honoured its commitment and conducted the elections across the state in a peaceful and orderly manner. The peaceful conduct of the polls demonstrated that campus violence was a feature of the previous govt’s tenure rather than an inevitable part of student politics, he added.Describing the ABVP’s electoral performance as historic, the CM said its success in Odisha, which he compared with the organisation’s performance in Delhi University, demonstrated that young people supported Modi’s development policies.Turning to the responsibilities of the newly elected student representatives, Majhi cautioned them against treating their victories as grounds for arrogance. “The electoral mandate should instead be viewed as the beginning of an important responsibility towards the student community,” he said.Majhi asked the student leaders to work towards resolving issues concerning education, hostel facilities and sports. He also asked them to act as a bridge between students and govt to ensure that the benefits of public welfare schemes reached every eligible student.Emphasising the need for coordination with college authorities, he called upon the newly elected representatives to help keep campuses free from violence and substance abuse.Majhi also urged the student leaders to counter what he described as baseless propaganda by forces attempting to weaken the country’s constitutional framework. He called on them to use positive communication to address such narratives and contribute to the state’s development.