Maharashtra SEC Doubles Star Campaigner Limit to 40, Transforming Local Body Elections

The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has dramatically increased the cap on star campaigners for local body elections from 20 to 40, igniting a potential game-changer in grassroots campaigning. This unexpected decision allows political parties to deploy twice as many high-profile personalities—ranging from Bollywood celebrities and sports icons to senior leaders and influencers—to sway voters in municipal corporations, zilla parishads, and panchayat samitis. The move is expected to intensify competition, especially in urban centers like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, where star appeal often translates into votes.

This bold move came after intense lobbying by political parties during a crucial meeting at the SEC office on October 14, 2025, with the official announcement dropping on Saturday. Representatives from major parties, including the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress, reportedly pressed for the hike, citing the vast geographical spread and population density of Maharashtra’s local bodies. The SEC, in a rare display of responsiveness, agreed to revise the limit within days, marking a significant departure from its traditionally rigid stance on electoral norms.

According to the SEC's release, the update amends paragraph 26 of the Maharashtra State Political Parties Registration, Regulation and Election Symbol (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 2025, directly responding to party demands for more high-profile faces. The clause previously restricted parties to 20 star campaigners per local body election cycle, a cap critics argued was outdated given the state’s 36 districts and over 2,300 local governing bodies. The revised rule now empowers parties to field up to 40 names, with their travel and campaign expenses covered under party funds rather than individual candidate limits.

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Parties must now rush to submit their expanded lists of star campaigners to district collectors or municipal commissioners for each local body poll, ensuring compliance with the new rules. The submission must include full names, designations, and photographs, and be filed at least 48 hours before the first campaign event. Failure to comply could result in disqualification of the campaigner’s expenses from party accounts, a penalty that could strain smaller regional outfits. The SEC has also warned against misuse, stating that only nationally or state-recognized figures will qualify as “star” campaigners.

This surge in star power could flood local elections with celebrity endorsements and big-name rallies, reshaping voter turnout and party strategies across the state. Analysts predict a domino effect: increased media coverage, higher youth engagement, and possibly even vote-splitting in tightly contested wards. With local body polls often serving as a litmus test for assembly and Lok Sabha performance, the doubled star quota may give ruling alliances a decisive edge—or backfire spectacularly if overused. One thing is clear: Maharashtra’s political battlefield just got a lot more glamorous.

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