ECI Condoles Passing Away of Former CEC T N Seshan

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on November 11, 2019, deeply mourned the passing away of former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan at Chennai on November 10 late night.

A condolence meeting to pay respect to Seshan was held at 11.15 am at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, on November 11. Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain  is reaching Chennai on behalf of the Commission to pay last respects to former CEC Seshan, according to a PIB release.

The ECI, in its condolence message the demise of  T N Seshan, said, “The Election Commission of India deeply mourns the demise of its 10^th Chief Election Commissioner Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan. T N Seshan, a brilliant officer of 1955 batch of Indian Administrative Service’s Tamil Nadu cadre was CEC between December12, 1990 and  December 11, 1996. Earlier, he had been the Cabinet Secretary. He set a high benchmark for the office and became a legend in his lifetime and will always be a source of inspiration to us and all CECs and ECs to come.”

” Seshan redefined the very grammar of the electoral process. Holding the constitutional post of CEC, he enhanced the stature of the office by coming heavily on electoral malpractices and dealing sternly even ruthlessly with violence and muscle power which were at all time high when he took over. He redeemed the autonomy and authority that the Constitution has bestowed upon ECI under Art. 324 of the Constitution. Refusing to act merely as manager of monitoring of electoral process, he started proactively purging the elections of their evils like money, liquor, muscle power, booth capturing etc,” the ECI said.

” From a career bureaucrat he repositioned himself as ‘Chief Election Commissioner of India’ who reminded people of the power of vote. Seshan was the right man, in the right place, at the right time. He became a symbol of a crusade against electoral corruption. He created an environment and consciousness whereby citizens felt that they were the main stakeholders in the elections. Though for the last 22-years of his life, he led a retired life in Chennai, he had become a living legend for the people at large,” the ECI message said. 

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