"True Torchbearer Of Democracy": Leaders Pay Tributes To TN Seshan

TN Seshan was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India.

Former chief election commissioner T N Seshan, who ruthlessly enforced the model code of conduct and led the game-changing electoral reforms in the 1990s, died on Sunday following a cardiac arrest. He was 86. Mr Seshan was not keeping good health for the past couple of years and passed away at 9.45pm, his daughter was quoted as saying by news agency told PTI.

Though he 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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise and said Mr Seshan was as an outstanding civil servant who served the country with utmost diligence and integrity.

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.

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 10, 2019

Home Minister Amit Shah remembered Mr Seshan as "true torchbearer of democracy".

Saddened by the demise of former Chief Election Commissioner, Shri T N Seshan ji. He played a transformative role in reforming and strengthening India's electoral institution. The nation will always remember him as a true torchbearer of democracy. My prayers are with his family.

- Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 10, 2019

In his condolence message, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu credited Mr Seshan for a number of reforms to give the Election Commission the stature it enjoys today.

Shri Sheshan did a yomen service to the nation through initiatives such as Introduction of Voter IDs, strict implementation Election Code of Conduct, setting expenditure limits and many more.

The nation is ever grateful to his invaluable contributions and service.

- Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) November 11, 2019

The Congress shared its interim President Sonia Gandhi's condolences on the death of Mr Seshan.

CP Smt Sonia Gandhi has expressed her condolences on the passing away of Shri TN Seshan. A seasoned civil servant who served as Cabinet Secretary, Shri Seshan will always be remembered for strengthening India's EC & pioneering many far reaching electoral reforms, Smt Gandhi said.

- Congress (@INCIndia) November 11, 2019

Chief Elections Officer Sunil Arora called Mr Seshan a "legend" who will always be a source of inspiration to "all CECs and ECs to come".

"Goodbye Seshan Saheb! TN Seshan was no more showing the real power to the Election Commission. Tearful tribute. The democracy of the country will always be proud of you. I wish, your tradition could have survived in this period through some more Jambanas. You will always be a source of inspiration to the lovers of democracy," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted in Hindi.

A retired 1955 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, TN Seshan is credited for fearlessly taking on both inert officials and slack political parties to ensure fair and free elections in the country during his six-year stint between 1990 and 1996 as the chief election commissioner. He was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India.

He had received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered Asia's Nobel, for his initiatives in making the electoral process more transparent.

Born in 1932 in Kerala's Palakkad district, the former bureaucrat had 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.

Before he was appointed as India's chief election official, he was handpicked by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to be the Cabinet Secretary, the senior most position in the civil services.

In 1997, TN Seshan had unsuccessfully contested the Presidential election against KR Narayanan.