The Election Commission (EC) has directed West Bengal Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty to follow its orders by February 17. The instructions include paying increased honorarium to booth-level officers (BLOs) and filing FIRs against officials who broke rules during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a meeting on February 13 at Nirvachan Sadan, the EC’s top officials told Ms. Chakraborty to comply by 5:30 p.m. on February 17. The EC is upset that the West Bengal government has not yet released the enhanced payments. Last August, the EC doubled BLOs’ yearly pay from ₹6,000 to ₹12,000 and increased BLO supervisors’ pay from ₹12,000 to ₹18,000. The panel also approved honorarium for electoral registration officers (EROs) and assistant EROs. Another demand is to lodge FIRs against officials who "wilfully flouted" the rules during SIR. Ms. Chakraborty, appointed Chief Secretary in January 2026, met the EC to discuss these and other pending issues. The EC had previously asked the state to file FIRs against four officers. The state suspended them and started departmental action but did not lodge FIRs. West Bengal is gearing up for assembly elections in two months. The EC wants all matters cleared before then.