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In what is seen as relief for former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, the Supreme Court has stayed the Election Commission order which revoked his “star campaigner” status o for model code violation during the campaign for bypolls in 28 assembly constituencies in the state.
The counsel appearing for the poll panel told a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde that Nath’s plea has become infructuous as the campaigning has ended and the voting is to take place on Tuesday.
“We are staying it,” said the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.
The apex court was hearing Nath’s plea challenging the October 30 order of the EC revoking his star campaigner status.
While a political party pays for the expenditure of its star campaigner, a candidate pays the expenses of other campaigners.
Besides seeking quashing of the EC order, the senior Congress leader has also sought framing of appropriate guidelines for speeches during campaigning by star campaigners or campaigners, “keeping in mind the right to freedom of speech and expression and concept of democratic elections”.
