The Supreme Court stayed Election Commission's order to revoke former Congress CM Kamal Nath's "star campaigner" status for violations of the model code during campaign for the bypolls in 28 assembly constituencies in the state. "We are staying the Election Commission's order," said Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde. The Commission had referred to his remarks against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He had allegedly used the words "mafia" and "milawat khor" against a political rival at a recent campaigning event. The ECI had asked Nath not to use words like "item" in campaigning, in apparent reference to Nath using it to describe woman BJP candidate Imarti Devi.
Nath had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission order. Senior lawyer and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said that the former chief minister has challenged the EC's decision on various grounds and an urgent hearing on his plea would be sought.
While the political party pays for the expenditure of a star campaigner, the candidate pays for the expenditure of other campaigners.
In the order, the poll panel said, "...for repeated violation of Model Code of Conduct and for completely disregarding the advisory issued to him, the Commission hereby revokes the status of leader of political party (star campaigner) of Kamal Nath, ex-chief minister, Madhya Pradesh, with immediate effect for the current bye-elections of legislative assembly of Madhya Pradesh."
It said no permission will be granted by authorities to Nath as a star campaigner. "However, if any campaign is done by Kamal Nath from now onwards, the entire expenditure related to travel, stay and visit will be completely borne by the candidate in whose constituency he carries out campaigning," it said. The EC said it has carefully considered the matter and has observed with "displeasure that Kamal Nath, despite being a leader of a political party, is repeatedly violating the provisions of Model Code of Conduct and breaching the ethical and dignified behaviour".
