On 30 October, 2020, the Election Commission of India revoked the star campaigner status of the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Kamal Nath on the grounds of repeated violations of model code during the by-polls campaigning in the state.
What is a star campaigner?
- A recognised political party can have 40 star campaigners and an unrecognised (but registered) political party can have 20.
- The list of star campaigners has to be communicated to the Chief Electoral Officer and Election Commission within a week from the date of notification of an election.
- The expenditure incurred on campaigning by star campaigners is exempt from being added to the election expenditure of a candidate. This rule only applies when a star campaigner limits herself to a general campaign for the political party she represents.
- If a candidate or her election agent shares the stage with a star campaigner at a rally, then the entire expenditure on that rally, other than the travel expenses of the star campaigner, is added to the candidate’s expenses.
- If the candidate is not present at the star campaigner’s rally, but there are posters with her photographs or her name on display, the entire expenditure will be added to the candidate’s account.
(Source: Indian Express)
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