Tirunellai Narayanaiyer Seshan was the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India, serving from December 12, 1990 to December 11, 1996. The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

An officer of the Indian Administrative Service, he also held the posts of director, Ministry of Atomic Energy; joint secretary, Ministry of Space; secretary, Department of Agriculture; Government of Tamil Nadu; Member (Personnel), Oil & Natural Gas Commission, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Space, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Defence, and secretary, Internal Security. The Indian Administrative Service, also called the Steel frame of India, was born out of the need for having a strong administrative network which can be relied upon by the executive arm of the Government for implementing its policies and decisions effectively. ...

He went on to occupy the post of Cabinet Secretary - the seniormost position in the Indian Civil Service hierarchy, and member, Planning Commission of India, before being appointed the Chief Election Commissioner. In the British Government, the Cabinet Secretary, or more formally Secretary of the Cabinet, is the senior civil servant in charge of the Cabinet Office, a department that provides administrative support to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the government as a whole. ... Indian Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym ICS, is the elite civil service of the Indian Government. ... The Planning Commission is an institution in the Government of India, which formulates Indias Five-Year Plans, among other functions. ...

As the Chief Election Commissioner of India he made history by introducing innovative electoral reforms and making the Election Commission a powerful body.

He won the prestigious Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1996. The Magsaysay award is given in honor of the late President of the Philippines Ramon Magsaysay. ...

In 1997, he lost to K.R. Narayanan in his bid for the post of President of India. Kocheril Raman Narayanan, usually known just as K. R. Narayanan (b. ... Executive President Prime Minister The Union Ministries Legislative Parliament Rajya Sabha Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Lok Sabha Speaker of the House Judicial Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Supreme Court High Courts District Courts Constitution Fundamental Rights and Directive principles Regions States and territories Elections General Elections State Assembly...