Highlights
- His strict commandments were: no bribing or intimidating voters, no distribution of liquor during the elections, no use of official machinery for campaigning
- He also ensured no appealing to voters' caste or communal feelings, no use of religious places for campaigns and no use of loudspeakers without prior written permission
- He enforced the Model Code of Conduct, strictly monitored limits on poll expenses, and cracked down on several malpractices like wall graffiti
- The issuance of Voter IDs for all eligible voters also came into being under his strict watch
Chennai/New Delhi: T.N. Seshan brought back faith in the Indian electoral system at a time when Indian elections were synonymous with booth rigging and misuse of government machinery.
The no-nonsense Seshan, an IAS officer of 1955 batch from Tamil Nadu cadre, managed to stamp his authority on the country's electoral system during his term as the country's 10th Chief Election Commissioner from 1990 to 1996.
His strict commandments were: no bribing or intimidating voters, no distribution of liquor during the elections, no use of official machinery for campaigning, no appealing to voters' caste or communal feelings, no use of religious places for campaigns and no use of loudspeakers without prior written permission.
He also enforced the Model Code of Conduct, strictly monitored limits on poll expenses, and cracked down on several malpractices like wall graffiti. The issuance of Voter IDs for all eligible voters came into being under his strict watch.
While he endeared himself to the citizens by cleaning up the elections of the blatant manipulative tactics employed by political leaders, in the process he also ended up offending politicians with his iron-clad instructions.
A shining example and model CEC
Appointed by Prime Minister Chandrashekhar as the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Seshan would always be remembered as a shining example of what a CEC should be.
He had earlier served as the 18th Cabinet Secretary of India in 1989. In 1996, he won the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Seshan even contested for the post of President of India in 1997 and lost to K.R. Narayanan.
Born on December 15, 1932 in Palakkad, in then Madras Presidency, now in Kerala, his full name was Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan.
'Zero delay and zero deficiency'
Seshan, who passed away on Sunday, at the age of 86 at his residence in Chennai, had once told an interviewer. "I had never conducted an election. I went with two principles: zero delay and zero deficiency."
His wielding the big stick worked. In the 1994 elections, in Karnataka's Gulbarga district, more than 20 cases were registered against candidates for not filing daily expenditure reports.
In another place, three officers were suspended for covertly aligning with candidates. In all constituencies, candidates had to furnish lists of vehicles used for electioneering and the returning officers had to check the meter readings to tally these with the daily expenditure statements.
He would stagger the voting to deploy additional forces which reduced the risks of booth capturing and violence near polling booths.
Under his strict watch, in the 1993 elections, in Uttar Pradesh, booth capturing count fell to 255 - from 873 in 1991. The number of polling day killings also fell from 36 to three. The number of constituencies in which polling had to be suspended or deferred, also dipped to three compared to the previous 17.
Money and muscle power were not the only things that Seshan tried to curtail. In all states, dry days were declared six days before polling.
In the 1994 assembly elections to four states, he deployed 150 election observers to ensure that rules were adhered to strictly. He also deployed 120 audit observers in Andhra, 116 in Karnataka, 60 in Sikkim and 40 in Goa to monitor the election expenses of each candidate.
In the 1996 general elections, the Election Commission deployed 1,500 observers - of three per constituency - for monitoring the elections. Polling stations were run by around 1.5 million state employees, while over 600,000 security personnel were deployed. Some 300,000 people were placed in preventive detention, including 125,000 in Uttar Pradesh, and 59,000 in Madhya Pradesh, where 87,000 firearms were also seized, according to reports.
In 1994, in a move that sent shockwaves through the political establishment, he denounced the then Welfare Minister Sitaram Kesari and Food Minister Kalpnath Rai for attempting to influence voters, and asked the then PM to remove the two from office. There was talk at the time whether the CEC had overstepped his brief by offering such unsolicited advice to the government.
He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1996 for "his resolute actions to bring order, fairness, and integrity to elections in India, the world's largest democracy. In asserting the authority and independence of the Election Commission, Seshan locked horns with India's Supreme Court and has feuded bitterly with the country's politicians, leading to more than one attempt to impeach him."
Interestingly, both Seshan and E. Sreedharan, former DMRC chief who is popularly known as the Metro Man, were classmates at BEM High School and Victoria College in Palakkad.
Both were eligible to study engineering in Kakinada (Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University). While Sreedharan decided to go ahead, Seshan decided to join MCC (Madras Christian College).
He later went to study at Harvard University on Edward S. Mason Fellowship where he earned a master's degree in public administration.
Condolences pour in over TN Seshan's death
Condolences poured in over the death of former Chief Election Commissioner of India T.N. Seshan, who passed away on Sunday at age 86.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted: "Saddened by the demise of Shri TN Seshan. He was a true legend. His contribution towards election reforms will be the guiding light for years to come. My deepest condolences. Om Shanti!"
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in a statement: "Saddened to know about the demise of T.N. Seshan Ji, a stalwart for free and fair elections. His legendary contribution to democracy will be always remembered. My condolences to his family and many admirers."
Puducherry Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi tweeted: "Just been informed Mr T.N. Seshan is no more. I am informed he was ailing for some time.
He was an epitome of a decisive public servant who believed in constant improvement dynamically. He was a very warm hearted person. One with a tough exterior with a very humane/soft interior."
Former CEC S.Y. Quraishi tweeted: "Sad to announce that Shri TN Seshan passed away a short while ago. He was a true legend and a guiding force for all his successors. I pray for peace to his soul."
Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted: "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 & crusty boss who asserted the Election Commission's autonomy & authority as no CEC before him had done. A pillar of our democracy."
Devendra Fadnavis, caretaker CM of Maharashtra, tweeted: "Sad to know about the demise of Former Chief Election Commissioner Shri T. N. Seshan ji. Known for electoral reforms, as a CEC he set a precedent for his successors. India will always remember him as a great administrator. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, followers!"
The IAS Association tweeted: "The man who reformed our Electoral System as we know today is no more. Shri T N Seshan (1955 TN) - served the nation in various capacities and is a true role model for all of us. His demise is a great loss for the nation & society. Condolences.
"Sad day indeed. We have lost two of our best senior members - T.N. Seshan (1955) and P S Krishnan (1956). True role models - they set standards of public service we all aspire for. Loss for nation & society. Deepest Condolences to family members," it posted.
Sheyphali Sharan, the spokesperson of the ECI, tweeted: "The Election Commission of India deeply mourns the passing away of Sh TN Seshan. Expressing his condolences, CEC Sh Sunil Arora said "T N Seshan was a legend. He will always be a source of inspiration to us and all CECs & ECs to come".
Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa tweeted: "The passing away of Sh. Seshan marks the end of an era. He upheld the dignity of his office & earned respect by his fierce independence & effective functioning. A goalpost for his successors, he continues to be a benchmark for the constitutional framework of a thriving democracy."
Congress leader Milind Deora tweeted: "Late TN Seshan was an accomplished civil servant, best remembered for reforming the Election Commission of India. As Chief Election Commissioner, Seshan ji galvanised India's youth to actively participate in the world's largest democratic exercise. May his soul rest in peace."
Congress leader Salman Anees Soz posted: "In many respects, T.N. Seshan taught us what independent institutions could look like in India. Even as institutional integrity has come under attack, Mr. Seshan's legacy remains for all those who care to follow it. RIP "
Former union minister Pon Radhakrishnan posted: "Deeply saddened to hear Shri TN Seshan passed away a short while ago. He was a true legend and a guiding force for all his successors in Indian EC. The Country will remember with gratitude to TN Seshan for his outstanding contribution to EC."
The Mumbai Congress tweeted: "We are saddened by the demise of former CEC, Shri TN Seshan. His contribution to upholding the democratic values of India as a bureaucrat and the Chief Election Commissioner will always be remembered with respect. Our condolences to his family and friends."
