Bhubaneswar : Odisha governor Professor Haribabu Kumbhampati, though beleatedly, announced the names for vice chancellor posts in 14 State government run universities.
Interestingly, Whispers are doing round that this time Present of India Draupadi Murmu, Assam Chief Minister Himant Biswa Sharma and UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath their interest in the selection of candidates.
President Murmu reportedly was interested for FM University VC Professor Santosh Tripathy.
Professor Tripathy has been selected for second term for FM University. A VC running for the second term in the same university is a new thing in Odisha academic history.
Odisha CM Mohan Majhi and BJP State President Manmohan Samal also backed the candidature of Professor Tripathy.
Professor Tripathy is known for his dedication to duty, honesty and intigrity. Under his stewardship, the newly constituted FM University has grown up to become an institution of national repute. The University has made a name for academic excellence, infrastructure and administration.
What, in fact, moved the President is VC Professor Tripathy’s dedication to duty. President Murmu was to attend the University Convocation and deliver the keynote addday. Few days before the Convocation day, Professor Tripathy lost his mother. However, despite the grief, the VC gave time for arrangement of the Presiden’s visit to the University.
It is said that the President’s office had word with the governor about Professor Tripathy.
Importantly, Professor Tripathy would be longest serving VC in Odisha if he will complete his this new tenure of four years. Joined as VC in July 2021, he was supposed to complete five years in July 2026 with an one year extension. He will be in office for continuously nine years after completion of second term.
Professor Tripathy’s appointment as VC for second term in the same university would encourage VCs to deliver.
In this context, the name of Berhampur University VC needs a mention. Under the able guardianship of VC Professor Gitanjali Dash the University has earned a name in the country for teaching, research, infrastructure and administration. Professor Dash has retrived the high NAAC grade for the University. When she joined as VC, the University had been assigned Grade B by the NAAC.
It is not only President, the Assam Chief Minister Himant Biswa Sharma saw his candidate got a berth in the the new VC list. Sharma had lobbied for the wife of his Police DG Jyoshna KB Rout has been selected for the VCship of RD Women University..
However, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath failed to get his candidate through. Yogi’s candidate could not be accomodated in the list as there was adverse report against him.
Wishpers over heard that while Chief Minister could manage four of his candidates got through, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP State President Manmohan Samal found five each of their favourites in the list.
This time there was an inordinate delay in declaring the final list. It is said that since many of the candidates were from other state, it took lot of time to get their confidential reports.
