Star Campaigner Guideline: Why are there no names of more than 20 or 40 leaders in the list of star campaigners?

by

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released the list of 40 star campaigners for Bihar Assembly elections.

Political parties are releasing the list of star campaigners for the assembly elections in Bihar. Some parties are registering names of 20 and some 40 campaigners in the list. At the time of elections in the country, political parties submit the list of star campaigners to the Election Commission. National parties enter up to 40 names and state level parties enter up to 20 names in this list.

Now the question arises that why are there no names of more than 20 or 40 leaders? Is this a tradition or is there a legal rule behind it? Know what the rules say.

Why is there a limit of 20 and 40 for star campaigners?

Star campaigners are those prominent leaders or faces whom the party officially declares as the key campaigners of its campaign. They generally fall in the category of big leaders who have more public appeal. Rallies, road shows and huge public meetings are often led by them. Since the names of star campaigners are registered with the Election Commission, a special system of accounting of their election expenses is implemented.

There is a legal limit on the number of star campaigners. Under the Representation of the People Act 1951 and election expenditure rules, political parties are allowed to nominate a limited number of star campaigners. Generally, a state level recognized party can give the names of maximum 20 star campaigners to the Election Commission. A nationally recognized party can give names of maximum 40 star campaigners. This limit is not an informal tradition, but a system determined by rules.

Why has the limit been fixed for star campaigners?

  • Transparency of election expenses: When a star campaigner is officially listed, the campaign expenditure incurred by him is usually added to the party’s central election expenditure rather than to the candidate, subject to certain conditions. Due to this, the burden of fixed expenditure limit on the candidates does not increase unnecessarily and overall accounting remains transparent.
  • Control over misuse: If the number of star campaigners is unlimited, parties can bypass the candidate’s spending limit by adding thousands of names. The limited number ensures that only truly high-profile and effective campaigners take advantage of this provision.
  • Administrative Simplicity: The limited list makes tracking and monitoring easier for the Commission and supervisory agencies. This is also a practical necessity in elections being held in different states and phases.

Highlights of Election Commission of India/Legal Framework

  • Recognized national parties are allowed to submit names of maximum 40 star campaigners.
  • A recognized state party is allowed to give a maximum of 20 names.
  • Nominations are given within the stipulated time frame after the election schedule is announced. Usually the list has to be filed within a week after the notification or till the cut-off decided by the Commission. The timelines are specified in the detailed guidelines of the Commission.
  • The list becomes part of the public record so that observers and expenditure monitoring teams can clearly know who is the star campaigner and whose expenditure will be booked in which account.
  • If a listed star campaigner campaigns in favor of a candidate, his expenses on rally, helicopter/vehicle, venue, stage etc. can be recorded in the central election expenses of the party under prescribed circumstances. But if the campaigner does something at a local event directly related to the candidate that clearly benefits and directly benefits the individual candidate, a portion of the expense may also be credited to the candidate’s account. This determination depends on practical facts and reports of observers.

Rules for unrecognized parties and independent candidates?

For unrecognized political parties and independent candidates, the concept of star campaigner does not apply in the same formal manner as it does for recognized parties. In such cases, there is usually a higher risk of the campaign expenses being directly credited to the candidate’s account. Therefore, the status of the recognized party matters here and this also explains the justification for the 20/40 limit.

The parties have to submit their star campaigner list on time. In some special circumstances the Commission may allow amendment in the list. Like removing a name or changing it in exceptional circumstances. But to avoid frequent changes in the middle of the election process, the Commission controls it strictly. Exemption in booking expenses on late names is not automatically granted. Therefore it is necessary to follow the deadline.

Can more than 20/40 names be given?

Not as per rules. This is the reason why you do not see the names of more than 20 or 40 leaders in the list. itThere is a legal limit. Even if a party declares more names than this, only the permitted number will be recognized as official star campaigners in the eyes of the Election Commission. The remaining names will be considered as general campaigners and the expenses of their programs can be added to the candidate’s account.

  • Protecting candidate’s spending limit: There is strict monitoring of election expenditure of candidates in every assembly and Lok Sabha constituency. The star campaigner provision provides legitimate relief to candidates so that the expenses of big platforms are not directly credited to their accounts and they do not exceed their limits.
  • Party Level Accountability: The expenses of top rallies, helicopter-charters and big events can be recorded in the party’s account, hence parties also maintain more discipline on their central election funds and accounts.
  • Focus in Campaign Strategy: With limited numbers, parties select the most effective faces. This increases uniformity of message and improves coordination in publicity.

myth vs truth

  • myth:The number 20/40 is just a convention.
  • Truth: This number is contained in the rules and guidelines and is linked to the system of expense accounting.
  • myth: Being a star campaigner means that no expenses will go into the candidate’s account.
  • Truth: If candidate-centric arrangements are clear at the local level, an appropriate portion may also be added to the candidate’s account. The determination is based on facts.
  • myth: An infinite number of names can be added at any time.
  • Truth: The limit is strict and the list has to be submitted within the time limit. Change occurs exceptionally and in limited circumstances.

The list of star campaigners does not contain more than 20 or 40 names because this is the maximum limit set by the electoral law of India and the guidelines of the Election Commission. This limit is 20 for a state level recognized party and 40 for a nationally recognized party. The basic objective of this arrangement is to maintain transparency of election expenditure, protect the expenditure limit of the candidate, ensure accountability at the party level and enable administrative monitoring. This is the reason that during the election season, you see the official star campaigner list of the parties only within these prescribed limits.

Also read: Whose responsibility is it for security in case of war? India will open embassy in Afghanistan

Leave a Comment