Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan was the former Chief Election Commissioner of India and had served from December 12, 1990, till December 11, 1996. He changed the face of the Commission bringing about sweeping electoral reforms. A retired 1955 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, he also served as the Defence Secretary and Cabinet Secretary of India. During his tenure, he held the position as the administrative head of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Seshan won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his services to the government in 1996.
Born on 15 December 1932 in Thirunellai, Palakkad district, Kerala, TN Seshan was a graduate in Physics and worked for three years as a demonstrator at the Madras Christian College. He joined the civil services in 1955 and served as secretary of several departments in Tamil Nadu and at the centre during his decades-long career.
However, Seshan became a household name in the country only after he took over as the chief election commissioner. As the 10th chief election commissioner, he ensured fair and free elections in the country during his trail-blazing six-year stint as the chief election commissioner. Seshan is credited with ushering in major electoral reforms. Known for enforcing the Model Code of Conduct, Seshan took stern action against any politician who tried to flout its provisions. He ensured that bogus voting was averted to a large extent. His reforms by and large changed the face of Indian elections. However, seen as too much of a hurdle by the political class, he earned the wrath of politicians who accused him of being "arrogant." A no-nonsense attitude was his hallmark and was known for his tough and straight talk.
Post-retirement he unsuccessfully contested against KR Narayanan in the 1997 presidential elections. In 1999 Lok Sabha elections, he fought against BJP stalwart LK Advani from Gandhinagar constituency in Gujarat but lost.
Illness and Death
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