Topics Covered: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Who is a star campaigner?
What?
Status of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath as a star campaigner for the party revoked.
Who?
The status has been revoked by the Election Commission.
Why?
For “repeated violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and for completely disregarding the advisory issued to him”.
Implications:
Now, the entire expenditure on any campaigning by Mr. Nath for the November 3 by-election would be borne by the candidate in whose constituency he campaigns.
Who are star campaigners?
They can be described as persons who are nominated by parties to campaign in a given set of Constituencies. These persons are, in almost all cases, prominent and popular faces within the Party. However, there are no specific definitions according to law or the Election Commission of India.
Benefits:
The expenditure incurred on campaigning by such campaigners is exempt from being added to the election expenditure of a candidate. However, this only applies when a star campaigner limits herself to a general campaign for the political party she represents.
Recently, the Election Commission has revised norms for star campaigners for polls during the pandemic. As per the revised norms:
- Maximum number of star campaigners reduced from 40 to 30 for a recognised party.
- For unrecognised registered parties, the number of star campaigners has been reduced from 20 to 15.
- Besides, they now require permission from the district election official 48 hours prior to campaigning.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Who is a star campaigner?
- How they are recognised?
- Recommended limits on their number by Election Commission.
- Benefits.
Sources: the Hindu.
