During Thursday’s proceedings before Justice Amit Bansal, Kavitha’s counsel laid bare the ECI’s lethargy. Despite submitting a comprehensive application on January 23—complete with the party’s constitution from its January 19 founding meeting, member lists, affidavits, and fees—the commission had taken no steps like scrutiny, public notice, or hearings since acknowledging it four days later.

Labeling the delay as ‘capricious and unreasonable,’ the petition invoked constitutional breaches under Articles 14 (equality) and 19(1)(c) (freedom to form unions). Kavitha stressed the real-world fallout: her party couldn’t participate in ongoing local polls or upcoming assembly elections with its preferred symbol and identity.

A former BRS stalwart and daughter of ex-CM KCR, Kavitha quit the party last year over internal rifts and set her sights on constituencies like Siddipet or Bodhan. The court’s directive to expedite the decision brings relief, potentially reshaping Telangana’s political landscape ahead of key contests.

This case highlights broader concerns over ECI’s processing timelines, especially when political ambitions and voter rights hang in the balance. The poll panel now faces pressure to act decisively.

An insider from the state CEO’s office confirmed the ECI’s latest directive, which lambasts the government for ignoring prior orders. ‘Repeated nudges fell on deaf ears,’ the source noted, prompting the commission to impose a hard deadline.

Spotlight falls on Baruipur East in South 24 Parganas, where ERO Debottram Dutta Chowdhury and AERO Tathagata Mandal stand accused. Similarly, in East Midnapore’s Moyna constituency, ERO Biplab Sarkar and AERO Sudipta Das face the heat for purportedly injecting phantom voters into the rolls.

Flashback to August 2023: ECI headquarters in New Delhi had already mandated suspensions and police complaints. Months later, little progress has been made, fueling accusations of political shielding.

This episode highlights deeper rot in Bengal’s electoral machinery. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was meant to purify lists bloated by an estimated lakhs of fake entries. Yet, ground-level lapses persist, raising alarms for democratic fairness.

Stakeholders from opposition parties have hailed the ECI’s resolve, demanding swift action. The state, however, maintains procedural hurdles. As the deadline looms, it remains a test of administrative will versus electoral oversight.