STAR CAMPAIGNER 

• In India, a star campaigner is a popular political figure designated by a political party to campaign for candidates in specific constituencies during an election.
• These individuals are typically well-known politicians, celebrities, or social figures who can attract large crowds and generate support for the party's candidates.
• There is no legal definition of a star campaigner, but the Election Commission of India (ECI) issues guidelines regulating their campaign activities.
• These guidelines include restrictions on campaign spending and the requirement for star campaigners to follow the Model Code of Conduct, which outlines ethical standards for campaigning.

Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act) delineates the legal framework for the expenditure incurred by individuals termed as "leaders of a political party," commonly referred to as "star campaigners." These individuals, who serve as the face of their respective parties during electoral campaigns, typically comprise the top leaders of a political party along with other prominent figures. However, the sole prerequisite for their appointment is their membership in the political party that selects them.

Appointment Limits

Communication Protocol

Multi-phase Election Considerations

• According to the RP Act, expenses incurred by "leaders of a political party" for travel, whether by air or any other means, to campaign for their party are not considered part of the election expenditure of individual candidates of the same party.
• This provision allows star campaigners to actively participate in campaigns without impacting the expenditure limits imposed on individual candidates. In larger states, the election expenditure limit per Lok Sabha constituency is ₹95 lakh, while in smaller states, it is ₹75 lakh.
• Star campaigners serve as significant assets in attracting votes for the candidates nominated by their respective parties. They can effectively bolster the campaign efforts of party candidates without constraints on their expenditure limits.

Regulatory Considerations

• The exemption is contingent upon star campaigners limiting their activities to general party campaigning.
• If, during any rally or meeting, a star campaigner explicitly solicits votes for specific candidates or shares the platform with them, the expenses incurred for such events will be attributed to the election expenditure of the respective candidates.
• Boarding and lodging expenses accrued by star campaigners while campaigning for particular candidates will be included in the expenditure accounts of those candidates, regardless of who pays for them.
• If candidates accompany star campaigners during travel, 50% of the travel expenditure of the star campaigners will also be attributed to those candidates.

• The Election Commission (EC) has issued advisories urging political parties to elevate the level of election discourse to issue-based debates and maintain decorum in campaigning.
• Despite the advisory, star campaigners from various parties have been found guilty of using inappropriate language, resorting to abusive rhetoric against leaders of opposing parties, and appealing to the caste or communal sentiments of voters.
• Instances include the use of inflammatory language by Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma of the BJP during the Delhi Assembly election campaign in January 2020, leading to their removal from the list of star campaigners by the EC for violating the Model Code of Conduct.
• In November 2020, the Supreme Court intervened in a case involving the revocation of star campaigner status for Kamal Nath of the Congress party by the EC. The court stayed the EC's order, asserting that the EC lacked the authority to take such actions.

Expenditure Assessment Discrepancies

• There are concerns regarding the assessment of expenditure incurred during rallies or meetings of star campaigners, with reported discrepancies between the assessed and actual expenditure.
• The discrepancy may stem from the use of a rate card by the EC that fails to reflect current market rates for various campaign-related items.
• As a result, the apportionment of expenditure to contesting candidates is lower than it should be, potentially distorting the transparency and fairness of electoral spending assessments.

• The existing provision in the RP Act granting political parties the authority to appoint or revoke the appointment of star campaigners should be reconsidered.
• Amend the law to empower the Election Commission (EC) to revoke the 'star campaigner' status of a leader in the event of serious violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
• This amendment would enable the EC, as the highest authority vested with the superintendence and control of elections under Article 324 of the Constitution, to take decisive action against offenders, potentially depriving party candidates of expenditure relief for their campaigns.
• By granting the EC the authority to revoke 'star campaigner' status, a heightened sense of responsibility would be instilled among leaders, encouraging them to adhere to campaign decorum and restraint.

Enhancing Expense Assessment

• Efforts should be made to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the assessment and apportionment of rally/meeting expenses where star campaigners actively campaign for particular candidates.
• Develop more robust methodologies for assessing campaign expenses, ensuring that they accurately reflect the actual costs incurred during rallies and meetings.
• Update rate cards used by the EC to reflect current market rates for various campaign-related expenses, preventing understatement and ensuring fairness in expense apportionment.