Padma Shri awardee Sunitha Krishnan. File
| Photo Credit: S. Ramesh Kurup
City-based social activist and Padma Shri awardee Sunitha Krishnan got a terse message in her mobile inbox on Friday (October 9, 2026).
“Form XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX has been rejected, ECI,” read the short message, without elaborating on any reason for the rejection.
Upon enquiring with the Booth Level Officer concerned, Ms. Krishnan learnt that her enumeration form, submitted as part of the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls, had been rejected as she had not mapped her entry to her parents’ details in the 2002 SIR.
“I was an adult in 2002. I just didn’t register myself as a voter,” she said, still unable to fully comprehend what might have gone wrong. The form had two sections, one for people who were already voters in 2002, and another requiring the parents’ details of those who were minors that year. Ms. Krishnan did not fill in the parents’ details either, as she had walked out of home at a very young age and had little contact with family since.
Ms. Krishnan said she and her husband, Rajesh Touchriver, registered as voters for the first time three years ago. Her husband ’s enumeration form was also rejected, with the couple receiving a message on the mobile.
“For years, I have avoided taking a voter card. Parties after parties have disappointed me. Even if I had a card, I would have voted for NOTA. It’s shameful that a Padma Shri awardee does not have a voter card, but that’s also an indication of my own understanding of what these political regimes mean to me,” she said, explaining the reason for her disinclination. The couple voted for the first time in the 2024 elections.
They submitted their enumeration forms online during the current SIR process, as no BLO turned up at their home to distribute or collect the forms. Ms. Krishnan said they had not received any notices during the SIR notice period asking them to submit any of the 12 listed documents to prove their citizenship.
Now, with the period for filing claims and objections coming to an end, the couple has missed the window to file Form 6 for re-enrolment into the final list.
Ms. Krishnan took to the social media platform X on Friday (October 10, 2026) to announce the news.
“Rejected! My SIR application just got rejected!” she posted.
Answering an anonymous troll who quoted her previous post commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said she felt neither sad nor unfair about it, but was simply “blank”.
“I believed in the need for SIR. I believed that there are people dead and gone [on the rolls]. I believe that there are a lot of encroachers that have entered India…. I see it directly. Hundreds of Bangladeshi girls we rescue have got fake Aadhaar cards, and if need be, they can also produce a fake voter card. I see that on day to day basis… I more than anyone believe that SIR is required,” said Ms. Krishnan, who got Padma award on 2016 for her work in rescue and rehabilitation of sex workers.
However, she believes the process has gone seriously awry somewhere. The couple is now gearing up to apply once again for inclusion, this time providing their parents’ details from the previous SIR.
Published – October 10, 2026 09:20 am IST
