Former CEC T N Seshan dies at 86
2 min read
Chennai: Former chief election commissioner T N Seshan has passed away at his residence here closed to midnight hours on November 10. He was 86.
According to sources close to the family, Seshan died of cardiac arrest after complaining of uneasiness at his Alwarpet residence on St Mary’s road.
A 1955 batch IAS officer Seshan is known for his six year stint in the election commission of India from December 12, 1990 to December 11, 1996, that made him a household name. He was the 10th CEC and set a precedent by bringing in electoral reforms to check electoral malpractices and ensure free and fair elections.
Seshan was born as Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan on December 15, 1932 in Palakkad, Kerala and did his early education at Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School and Government Victoria College, before doing his graduation from Madras Christian College.
Seshan was predeceased by his wife Jayalakshmi a year ago.
Seshan’s daunting task of waking up the election commission from its slumber earned him an international recognition in the form of Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1996. He also contested the elections- for the post of President of India against K R Narayanan in 1997 and against BJP veteran L K Advani in Gandhinagar in Gujarat in 1999 parliamentary elections as a Congress candidate, but lost to make a start in public life.
However, he had inspired several movie makers irrespective of language to create characters akin to that of his challenging task as a chief election Commissioner.
The mortal remains of Seshan will be cremated on November 11.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
