How the late TN Seshan's work revolutionized Indian Elections

NEW DELHI: Former Chief Election Commissioner Tirunellai Narayana Seshan who led the EC from 1990 to 1996 passed away due to a cardiac arrest on Sunday in Chennai. He was 86. He is hailed as an icon of the Indian bureaucracy for reforming India's electoral process in the nineties.

TN Seshan was born in 1932 in Palakkad district of Kerala. He joined the civil services in 1955 and served as secretary of several departments in Tamil Nadu and at the centre in his long career spanning decades. The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi selected him personally to be the Cabinet Secretary, known to be the senior-most position among the civil services.

After retiring from 1955's batch of Indian Administrative Service officer from Tamil Nadu, TN Seshan led the Election Commission from 1990 to 1996 as the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India. He brought in many rules in place to keep corrupt politicians in check during his tenure. However, the centre appointed two additional Election Commissioners to curb his revolutionary moves.

He introduced the implementation of the election process and the Model Code of Conduct, the introduction of voter ID cards, enforcing limits on poll expenses, and elimination of several malpractices like distribution of liquor, bribing voters, ban on wall writing, use of loudspeakers, use of religion in election speeches etc. He brought in the concept of election observers and forced the political candidates to keep strict accounts of campaign expenses.

Under his strict watch, a serving Governor who campaigned for his son had to resign. The Chief Secretary of UP was brought under the radar for using the public exchequer to publish an advertisement in a newspaper. His reforms were bold and often brought corrupt politicians to heel.

He is an awardee of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award considered Asia's Nobel Prize for making the electoral process in India more transparent.

The leaders of the country joined to remember the leader's work that greatly impacted the progress of our country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted

"Shri TN Seshan was an outstanding civil servant. He served India with utmost diligence and integrity. His efforts towards electoral reforms have made our democracy stronger and more participative. Pained by his demise. Om Shanti."

West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee said "Saddened to know about the demise of T.N. Seshan, a stalwart for free and fair elections. His legendary contribution to democracy will be always remembered. My condolences to his family and many admirers."

Mr Seshan was a pillar of India's democracy, said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. "Sad that former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan has passed away in Chennai. He was my father's classmate at Victoria College, Palakkad. A courageous and crusty boss who asserted the Election Commission's autonomy and authority as no CEC before him had done. A pillar of our democracy" tweeted the verbose leader.

TN Seshan's last rites are likely to be performed on Monday.