151 star campaigners for Pudukottai bypoll

CHENNAI: Various political parties in the State have given a list of as many as 151 star campaigners to undertake the campaign for the by-election to Pudukottai Assembly constituency.According to the provisions of Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, the expenditure incurred by leaders of political parties on account of travel by air or any other means of transport for propagating programmes of the political party is not deemed to be expenditure incurred or authorised by the candidate or his/her agent, Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said in an official release here.The list of leaders for whom the parties desire to get exemption should be communicated to the CEO or EC on or before May 25. Up to Thursday, the following parties have asked for and been given passes for their star campaigners: Akhila India Jananayaka Makkal Katchi (Dr Isaac - 20 passes), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (40), All India Samathuva Makhal Katchi (20), Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (11), Tamil Maanila Quaide Milleth League (20) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (40).The names of the star campaigners can be seen on the website www.elections.tn.nic.in after the last date for seeking passes.As per the Commission’s instructions, the expenditure on transport of star campaigners of a party is not included in the expenditure of the candidate of the party for whom they have been campaigning. However, if the star campaigners of one party campaign for a candidate of another party then the entire expenditure of the star campaigner, including transport to and from the headquarters, will be added to the expenditures of the candidate, the CEO added.Meanwhile six independents, including a man from Chennai  PM Sriram Chandran alias VeeraVanniyan (30) of Saligramam, Chennai,  filed their nomination papers for the bypoll to the Pudukottai constituency, which is scheduled for June 12, here on Thursday.