T. N. Seshan: The Man Who Transformed Indian Elections

Introduction

Tirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan, popularly known as T. N. Seshan, is remembered as the man who revolutionized India’s electoral system. As the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India from 1990 to 1996, he redefined how elections were conducted, restoring public faith in democracy. Fearless, uncompromising, and deeply committed to fairness, Seshan transformed the Election Commission from a quiet office into a powerful constitutional authority that even the most influential politicians could not ignore.

Early Life and Education

T. N. Seshan was born in the town of Thirunellai in Palakkad, Kerala, into a traditional Tamil Brahmin family. His early upbringing instilled in him discipline and a respect for knowledge. He studied physics at Madras Christian College, Chennai, before joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1955. Midway through his career, he pursued higher education at Harvard University as an Edward S. Mason Fellow, earning a Master’s degree in Public Administration. This exposure to international governance ideas broadened his outlook and sharpened his administrative skills.

Career in the Civil Services

Belonging to the Tamil Nadu cadre of the IAS, Seshan held various important posts in state and central administrations. He worked in district administration, handled critical departments in the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, and later moved to senior positions in the Union Government. He served in the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation in an administrative capacity, and in the Ministry of Environment and Forests during a crucial period when environmental governance was gaining momentum in India.

In 1989, he reached the highest bureaucratic post in the country, becoming the Cabinet Secretary of India. This role gave him an intimate understanding of how political power interacted with administrative machinery—knowledge he would later deploy as Election Commissioner.

Chief Election Commissioner (1990–1996)

Seshan took charge of the Election Commission at a time when electoral malpractice was rampant. Booth capturing, impersonation, rigging, muscle power, and misuse of government machinery were seen as routine. Voter rolls were full of inaccuracies, campaign finance was largely unregulated, and the Election Commission was often viewed as toothless.

Seshan turned this perception on its head. He made the Model Code of Conduct a strict, enforceable rulebook rather than a set of guidelines. Under his leadership, politicians discovered that elections would no longer be business as usual.

Key Reforms

1. Strict Enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct
   Seshan stopped governments from announcing populist schemes or using official resources during campaigns. He did not hesitate to reprimand chief ministers, cabinet ministers, or even postpone elections if rules were violated.

2. Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
   To curb voter impersonation, Seshan launched a nationwide program in 1993 to provide voters with photo identity cards. Though it took years to achieve universal coverage, the system fundamentally changed how India authenticated voters.

3. Curb on Campaign Expenditure and Practices
   He restricted the use of loudspeakers, wall graffiti, posters, and excessive rallies. He made permissions mandatory for campaign activities and began monitoring candidate expenditure to bring discipline into political spending.

4. Security and Phased Elections
   Seshan introduced staggered polling phases in sensitive areas, using central security forces to ensure fair play. This helped reduce violence and intimidation at polling booths.

5. Institutional Independence
   By directly confronting powerful political figures and standing firm against pressure, Seshan elevated the Election Commission into one of the most respected institutions of Indian democracy.

Clash Over Multi-Member Commission

In 1993, the government decided to make the Election Commission a multi-member body by appointing two additional commissioners. Seshan resisted this move, arguing that it was meant to dilute his powers. The dispute reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in 1995 that the multi-member structure was constitutional and that decisions should be taken by majority. This ruling permanently established the collegial system that continues today.

Major Elections Overseen

Seshan supervised the turbulent 1991 general elections held after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, as well as several assembly elections across the country. His reforms ensured that elections were more orderly and credible than ever before. The 1996 general elections, which he also oversaw, ushered in a new era of coalition politics, but more importantly, were seen as among the cleanest elections India had witnessed till then.

Public Image

Seshan was a disciplinarian with a no-nonsense style. He was blunt in public statements, fearless in confronting political heavyweights, and often projected an almost authoritarian stance. This made him a controversial figure—loved by the common people for standing up to corrupt practices, but criticized by many politicians who accused him of arrogance and overreach. Nevertheless, he became a household name in the 1990s, a rare feat for a bureaucrat.

Awards and Recognition

In 1996, T. N. Seshan was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service, often referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize. The award citation recognized his role in restoring integrity and credibility to India’s democratic process.

Author and Thinker

Seshan wrote extensively about governance and public life. His book The Degeneration of India (1995) was a candid critique of corruption, inefficiency, and declining values in public institutions. He also delivered lectures and mentored students, sharing his vision of ethical governance.

Presidential Election of 1997

After retiring as CEC, Seshan contested the presidential election of 1997 as an independent candidate. He was pitted against K. R. Narayanan, who enjoyed broad political support. Narayanan won overwhelmingly, and Seshan secured only a small fraction of the votes, but his candidature once again highlighted his stature as a fearless public figure.

Later Life and Passing

After his retirement from active public life, Seshan lived quietly in Chennai with his wife Jayalakshmi until her passing in 2018. He occasionally appeared at public forums, giving lectures on governance and democracy. On November 10, 2019, Seshan passed away at the age of 86. Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, with leaders acknowledging that he had transformed Indian elections forever.

Legacy

T. N. Seshan’s greatest legacy lies not only in the reforms he introduced but in the cultural shift he brought about. He made politicians fear the Election Commission and made voters believe their votes mattered. The enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, the introduction of voter ID cards, and stricter controls on campaigns continue to define Indian elections to this day.

He is remembered as the man who gave the Election Commission its spine and the Indian voter a voice. In the long history of India’s democracy, his tenure stands out as a turning point when the rules of the game changed forever.

🔑 10 Key Reforms of T. N. Seshan

1. Strict Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

Turned a soft guideline into an enforceable rulebook, binding even the most powerful leaders.

2. Voter Photo ID (EPIC)

Launched the nationwide Electors Photo Identity Card drive in 1993 to curb impersonation.

3. Check on Campaign Spending

Introduced monitoring of candidate expenses and limited lavish spending.

4. Regulation of Campaign Methods

Restricted use of loudspeakers, posters, and wall graffiti; permissions became mandatory for rallies.

5. Action Against Misuse of Government Machinery

Stopped ministers and officials from using state resources for electioneering.

6. Security & Phased Elections

Brought in staggered polling with central forces to prevent booth capturing and violence.

7. Cancellation & Postponement Powers

Did not hesitate to countermand elections in cases of malpractice.

8. Empowered the Election Commission

Raised the Commission’s stature from a low-key office to a powerful constitutional authority.

9. Fearless Confrontation of Political Class

Took on chief ministers, union ministers, and political parties without compromise.

10. Public Confidence in Elections

Restored faith among ordinary citizens that their vote truly mattered.

✨ T. N. Seshan’s Legacy:
He transformed Indian elections from chaotic contests into more disciplined and credible democratic exercises, setting standards still followed today.

Conclusion

T. N. Seshan was more than just a bureaucrat; he was an institution-builder and a reformer whose courage reshaped the largest democracy in the world. At a time when cynicism about the electoral process was at its peak, he restored faith in the system. Even decades later, his name remains synonymous with free and fair elections in India.