T N Sheshan (Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan)- the person with the iron fist left for the heavenly abode on sunday. He was the previous Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. He died in chennai on Sunday following a cardiac arrest. He was 86.
TN Seshan ruthlessly enforced the model code of conduct and led game-changing electoral reforms within the Nineties once he served as the tenth CEC from 1990 to 1996.
TN Seshan’s daughter Srividhya said he wasn’t keeping healthiness for the past 2-3 years and passed away at 9.45 pm.
“Sad to announce that Shri TN Seshan passed away a brief while ago. He was a real legend and a guiding force for all his successors. I pray for peace to his soul,” said SY Quraishi, former CEC.
TN Seshan was a retired 1955 batch Indian administrative Service (IAS) officer of Tamil Nadu cadre. TN Seshan had earlier served as the 18th cabinet Secretary of india in 1989. He had also won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his services to the govt in 1996.
Born in december 1932 in Thirunellai, Palakkad district in Kerala, TN Seshan was a graduate in Physics and worked for 3 years as a demonstrator at the Madras Christian college. This is when he passed the IAS exam.
TN Seshan also studied at harvard university on Edward S. Mason Fellowship where he attained a master’s degree in public administration.
A few condolence messages from the political gallery including one by our honorable prime minister Sh. Narendra Modi
@narendramodi
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.
Expressing grief, Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted saying that TN Seshan played a transformative role in reinforcing and strengthening India’s electoral institution.
@AmitShah
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.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condoled TN Seshan’s demise. She said, “Saddened to know about the demise of TN 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.”
@MamataOfficial
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
Meanwhile, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said, “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!”
“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,” Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted.
@ShashiTharoor
Sad that former ChiefElectionCommissioner
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.