The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Election Commission's order to withdraw the record of former chief minister Kamal Nath's star campaigner during the by-elections for the 28 seats of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Election Commission counsel from Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna, and Justice V Ramasubramanian bench said that Kamal Nath's petition has now become meaningless as the election campaigning for these seats has stopped and there is voting tomorrow.
"We are prohibiting this," the bench said. The apex court was hearing his petition against the Election Commission's order of 30 October withdrawing senior Congress leader Kamal Nath as the star campaigner.
In the election, the cost of Star campaigners is borne by the political party, while the expenses of other campaigners are borne by the candidate. The former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in his petition has canceled the order of the Election Commission and requested the court to take into consideration the right to freedom of speech and expression provided in the constitution and election in the democratic system by star campaigners or campaigners. Appropriate guidelines should be made regarding the speeches to be given during the course.