Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Who is a star campaigner? What is their significance in electoral outcomes?

The election fever is catching up, with the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 less than three weeks away.

Apart from the usual lists of candidates, political parties have started releasing the names of ‘star campaigners,’ who may tilt the balance in their favour.

The two principal contenders, the and thehave announced their ‘star campaigners’ for Lok Sabha polls in some states.

So, who are these ‘star campaigners,’ and what is their significance?

A ‘star campaigner’ is a famous person with a huge fan following chosen by a political party to contest or campaign during elections. This can be anyone. A political heavyweight, a movie star, a well-known celebrity, or even a sportsperson.

The star campaigners are picked based on their popularity. The list has to be sent to the . There is no specific definition of a star campaigner in the law. And electoral  laws do not stipulate who can or cannot be made a star campaigner.

Not surprisingly, the ruling BJP has the biggest star power on its list. is the BJP’s biggest crowd puller. The BJP'S other star campaigners include Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh chief minister . Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai are also in the list.

In fact, the BJP has named four incumbent members of parliament (MPs) -- -- who have been denied tickets by the party as its ‘star campaigners’ for Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections.

The principal Opposition party, Congress, which is hoping to turn the tables on the ruling BJP, has included former party presidents and Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi in its list of ‘star campaigners.’

Three Congress chief ministers- Siddaramaiah