This stint, apart from giving him a strong grounding in public administration and policy implementation, also provided a good exposure to election organization at the grass root level.

This provided a strong footing in managing organizations and working towards realization of organizational goals in compressed timeframes.

Later, he also served as Secretary, in the Central Power Ministry, where he was instrumental in implementing several forward-thinking policies to aid the sector.

[4] To his credit, as Chief Election commissioner, Sampath has smoothly conducted the largest electoral exercise in the history of world democracies - 2014 Indian general election-the 14th general elections in India, where 550 million voters out 814 million eligible voters participated and the highest voting percentage was recorded since Indian independence-66.7%.

[6] Sampath has brought with him to the office of CEC, a style of quiet efficiency,[7] effective planning and time-bound execution.

[25] This move sparked several protests by political parties, who cited lack of jurisdiction on part of the Election Commission to issue such orders.

[26] However, in another unprecedented step, the Election Commission issued a clarification that such guidelines are binding, and any non-compliance would result in invocation of the draconian Para 16A of the Symbols Order 1968.

[citation needed] In the landmark judgement in the Ashok Chavan case in the case of inaccurate electoral rolls in the 2009 election, the Election Commission held -[32] "Para 94 - Having regard to the totality of the circumstances mentioned above relating to the publication of the aforesaid 25 advertisements in various newspapers referred to above, the Commission is of the considered view that respondent cannot validly claim ignorance about the publication of the abovementioned 25 advertisements in which his name, the name of his constituency and also his photograph prominently appeared."

[33] Importantly, Sampath issued the "Transparency guidelines" for political parties, thereby making it mandatory for them to file semi-annual returns of their balance sheets & and income statements.

[clarification needed] Advocating such a move, he said, "Right to reject is an idea inherent to democracy, whose time for execution has come".