India’s former Chief Election Commissioner T N Seshan, who led the game-changing electoral reforms in the country in 1990s, died in Chennai on Sunday night following a cardiac arrest at the age of 86.
Seshan was not keeping good health for the past couple of years and passed away at 9.45pm Indian time, his daughter Srividhya said.
Known for ignoring threats and deeply-entrenched interests and enforcing electoral laws to rein in money and muscle power in polls, Seshan, a career bureaucrat, was credited with ushering in major electoral reforms during his tenure as the 10th CEC between December 12, 1990, and December 11, 1996.
During his tenure as the chief of the poll-conducting body, he clamped down against politicians who used executive powers to sway voters.
After his retirement, Seshan had unsuccessfully contested the Indian presidential elections in 1997 but lost to Congress candidate K R Narayanan.
Born in Thirunellai in Palakkad district of Kerala, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1996.
In his acceptance speech of the prestigious award, Seshan had said "I deemed this award a tribute to the process of democracy throughout the free world, to the wisdom of millions of India's electorate not always necessarily formally educated, to the millions of Indian voters who have overcome disabilities of economic status, social disability, poverty, and prejudice to walk into the ballot booth and use that little marking stamp to decidedly say who they want to rule over them."
A 1955-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, he held various key posts in the government including that of the Defence Secretary and the coveted position of Cabinet Secretary. But he gained popularity only after he took over as the Chief Election Commissioner.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Seshan was as an outstanding civil servant who served the country with utmost diligence and integrity.
"His efforts towards electoral reforms have made our democracy stronger and more participative. Pained by his demise. Om Shanti," Modi wrote on Twitter.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted her condolence message describing Seshan as “a stalwart for free and fair elections. His legendary contribution to democracy will be always remembered.”
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said Seshan played a transformative role in reinforcing and strengthening India's electoral institution.
Former CEC SY Quraishi said on Twitter that Seshan was a true legend and a guiding force for all his successors. "I pray for peace to his soul."
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Seshan was a “courageous & crusty boss who asserted the Election Commission's autonomy & authority as no CEC before him had done. A pillar of our democracy."
Incumbent Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said the passing away of 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."