Examinations scheduled for Monday in Orissa universities have been delayed considering the countrywide strike called by political parties to protest the increase in fuel prices.

The Biju Patnaik University of Technology and the Utkal University delayed their examinations after several political parties demanded a shutdown earlier this week, marking the first unified argument since the Congress returned to power last year.

The Biju Patnaik University of Technology has rescheduled its fourth semester exams of various engineering courses to July 10, university Registrar A. N. Acharya told IANS.

A representative of Utkal University stated that the fresh dates for the exams would be declared shortly.

All the universities were to carry out examinations of 19 courses Monday.

Anirudha Rout, special secretary of the state's higher education department, said, "The universities have postponed the examinations on their own. We have not issued any order."

In Orissa, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and its associates are taking part in the protestation.

Apart from the examinations being rescheduled, rail and road services are likely to be hit and schools and colleges would be closed.

Last week, the central administration ended government controls on petroleum pricing and increased the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas.

The price of diesel grew by Rs 2 per litre, kerosene by Rs 3 per litre, petrol by Rs 3.50 per litre, and cooking gas by Rs 35 per cylinder. (With Inputs from Agencies)