EC revokes Kamal Nath’s star campaigner status for MP assembly bypolls

The Election
Commission of India (ECI) on Friday rescinded Congress leader and former Madhya
Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath’s ‘star campaigner’ status over recurring
violations of the model code of conduct while campaigning for the
forthcoming bypolls in the state.

According to PTI, the ECI 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.”

28 assembly
constituencies are going to by polls in Madhya Pradesh on November 3. 

The election watchdog also said that all expenses related to travel, stay and visit for any campaign events undertaken by Nath will be borne by the candidate in whose constituency the rallies are held. 

On Wednesday, the ECI issued a notice to Nath over his “item” remark for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Imarti Devi. 

The comments, for which Nath later expressed regret, have prompted widespread criticism as BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia, have slammed the Congress leader over the same. 

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also disapproved Nath’s remarks, calling it “unfortunate”.