MUMBAI, Nov. 9 -- After repeated demands from political parties, the State Election Commission (SEC) has increased the maximum number of 'star campaigners' that political parties can announce for the upcoming local body polls from 20 to 40. A star campaigner is a prominent figure, that parties appoint to campaign for them during elections to attract voter support by leveraging their popularity. Parties inform the SEC about these campaigners, and the money spent on their tours is excluded from the expenses of candidates they promote. As per the SEC, representatives of various political parties during a meeting on October 14 at the SEC's office, demanded that the number of star campaigners be raised to 40. A senior officer of the SEC said, "We took this decision since elections are soon to be held in every nook and corner of the state.''...