Who is a star campaigner?

• During elections, a star campaigner is a leader who seeks votes for his party during the election. He or she can be a politician or even a film star. There is no strict law governing who can or cannot be made a star campaigner. It depends on the party whom to choose as the star campaigner for the election.
• It is a status that the political parties contesting an election give to certain big names who the parties feel can fetch more votes from people with special campaigning style.

Legal norms

• Expenditure incurred on electioneering by the star campaigner is not added to a candidate’s poll expenditure giving him/her more leeway. According to the Representation of People’s Act, these expenses will be borne by the political parties.
• However, this only applies when a star campaigner limits herself to a general campaign for the political party she represents.
• If she/he shares the stage with a candidate, the entire campaign cost except expenditure incurred on travelling will be added to the candidate’s election expenses. 

Why in News?

• The Election Commission has decided to restore the maximum limit on number of Star Campaigners and the time period for submission of the list of Star Campaigners for all ongoing and future elections with immediate effect.
• The Commission took the decision in view of the decline in cases of Covid -19 and the gradual lifting of restrictions by the Central and State governments. 
• The Commission said, now the maximum limit on the number of Star Campaigners for recognized National and State political parties will be 40 and for other than recognized political parties, it will be 20.  
• Earlier, in October 2020, the Commission had reduced the number of star campaigners for recognised national and state parties.

Reference:

1. https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Election-Commission-restores-maximum-limit-on-number-of-star-campaigners-as-Covid-19-cases-decline&id=435898