The Supreme Court on Monday stayed Election Commission’s order removing Congress leader Kamal Nath’s star campaigner status.
The Election Commission on Friday revoked the star campaigner status of Kamal Nath, citing repeated violation of Model Code of Conduct.
The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister had moved the Top Court challenging the poll body’s decision to revoke his “star campaigner” status.
While hearing the matter today, the Apex Court said prima facie EC didn’t have the power to remove a candidate from the star campaigner list.
Representing the Election Commission, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi said since the election is due on November 3, the plea is infructuous.
In its order on October 30, the Commission had said, “for repeated violation of Model of Conduct and for “completely disregarding” the advisories issued to him, the commission revoked Kamal Nath’s star campaigner status.”
If any campaign is done by Kamal Nath from now onwards, the entire expenditure related to travel, stay, visit will be borne by the candidate in whose constituency campaign is being undertaken, the Election Commission’s order states.
Kamal Nath had earlier been warned by the Election Commission after he used the word “item” for a woman BJP candidate.
While Campaigning, the former CM had mocked BJP’s Imarti Devi, saying the Congress candidate was a simple person unlike his opponent, who was an item.
The Commission had advised Kamal Nath that while making public utterances he should not use any such word or statement during the period of Model Code of Conduct.
