T N Seshan: A bold electoral reformer
| Date :12-Nov-2019 |
CHENNAI :
TOUGH and a stickler to the rulebook, T N Seshan fearlessly took on both inert officials and slack political parties to ensure fair and free elections in the country during his trail-blazing six-year stint between 1990 and 1996 as the Chief Election Commissioner. Born Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan on December 15, 1932 in Thirunellai, Palakkad district of Kerala, he ruthlessly enforced the Model Code of Conduct much to the chagrin of political parties. Till he took over, political parties ferrying people to polling stations was considered quite “normal,” and it was during Seshan’s stint as CEC that it became impossible with the Model Code being made sacrosanct.
Also, he ensured that bogus voting was curbed to a large extent. Such reforms were unheard of till he took over as the 10th Chief Election Commissioner in 1990. In his zealous mission to cleanse the electoral system, he earned the wrath of politicians including late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa who had hit out at him for being “arrogant.” He had won kudos and laurels as well including the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1996 for exemplary work in public, government service.
Though Seshan was largely confined to his home due to age-related health issues for the past couple of years, he was always passionate to write about his journey, the people he knew and eventful years in service of the people. “It, however, did not materialise,” Seshan’s daughter Srividhya told PTI. In accordance with his wishes, a trust was formed last August for propagation of spirituality, the “Narayaneeyam,” a spiritual and devotional compilation and the Vedas, she said.
A 1955-batch IAS officer, though he had held various key posts in the Government including that of Defence Secretary and the coveted position of Cabinet Secretary, he became a household name in the country only after he took over as the CEC. A no-nonsense attitude was his hallmark, and he ensured checks and balances at all levels to see that the entire election process right from scrutiny of nominations to conduct of polls were carried out according to the rule book. From deploying election observers for fair play to fixing election schedules in a staggered fashion to help station security forces and rule out then-infamous “booth capturing,” especially in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Seshan led a slew of initiatives some of which invited the wrath of parties.
He was bold enough to cancel polls in Punjab in 1991 to see to it that poll process was not vitiated by violence. Maharahtra’s caretaker Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday condoled the demise of former CEC T N Seshan, describing him as a great administrator. “Sad to know about the demise of Former Chief Election Commissioner Shri T N Seshanji. Known for electoral reforms, as a CEC he set a precedent for his successors. India will always remember him as a great administrator,” Fadnavis tweeted. Educated at Madras Christian College in Chennai, he was courageous and as Congress leader Shashi Tharoor put it he was a “crusty boss who asserted the Election Commission’s autonomy and authority as no CEC before him had done. A pillar of our democracy.”