ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI) RESTORES MAXIMUM LIMIT ON STAR CAMPAIGNERS.

Why in news?

• Citing decline in COVID-19 cases, ECI has restored the number of star campaigners a party can field for campaigning in the ongoing polls in five states.
• Star campaigners are nominated by political parties to campaign in a given set of constituencies for a specified duration.
• List of star campaigners must be communicated to Chief Electoral Officer and ECI within a week from the election notification date under section 77(1) of Representation of People Act (RPA), 1951.
• A recognised political party can have 40 Star campaigners and an unrecognised (but registered) political party can have 20.
• There is no law that defines who can be a star campaigner. Expenditure incurred on campaigning by such notified star campaigners is exempt from being added to the election expenditure of a candidate.
• However, this only applies when a star campaigner limits oneself to a general campaign for the political party one represents.
• If a candidate or his/her election agent shares stage with a star campaigner at a rally, then the entire expenditure on that rally, other than the travel expenses of star campaigner, is added to candidate’s expenses.