Economist and author Parakala Prabhakar, husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is among the prominent figures expected to participate in a nationwide campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on October 23. The mobilisation, led by the newly formed People Against SIR alliance, is demanding that the revision exercise be scrapped and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar step down.

The protest is expected to bring together actor and activist Prakash Raj, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora and author Tushar Gandhi.

Announcing his participation, Prabhakar called for a decentralised public mobilisation under the slogan “Har gali mein Jantar Mantar”, urging people to join the march to “restore democracy”. The event is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026.

The alliance has also invited parties belonging to the INDIA bloc, although their participation in the protest has not yet been confirmed.

Who is Parakala Prabhakar?

Prabhakar has emerged as a prominent critic of the BJP-led government's economic policies, despite being married to one of the ruling party's senior leaders. His public commentary has frequently focused on economic decision-making, employment and the functioning of democratic institutions.

In his book, The Crooked Timber of New India, he questions key policy decisions, including demonetisation, and raises concerns about unemployment and what he sees as the erosion of institutional independence.

Born in Narsapuram in Andhra Pradesh, Prabhakar met Sitharaman while both were associated with Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. They married in 1986, despite their differing political leanings.

His own political career has included roles at both the state and party levels. In 2009, he was associated with the Praja Rajyam Party, founded by actor Chiranjeevi. He later became communications adviser to the Andhra Pradesh government under Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, serving from 2014 to 2018.

Prabhakar resigned in April 2018, shortly after the Telugu Desam Party withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance amid a dispute over special-category status for Andhra Pradesh. His position had come under political scrutiny, with opposition voices raising questions about possible conflicts arising from his wife's association with the BJP.

Earlier this month, Prabhakar attended a CJP-led demonstration against the Chief Election Commissioner at Bengaluru's Freedom Park. The October 8 protest was also attended by actor Prakash Raj and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.

His participation in the upcoming nationwide mobilisation is expected to bring additional public attention to the anti-SIR campaign.

People Against SIR seeks nationwide mobilisation

The People Against SIR alliance was formed on October 14, bringing together groups representing students, farmers, Dalits, Adivasis and minority communities. It aims to coordinate opposition to the electoral roll revision beyond established political parties and their organised demonstrations.

The alliance has alleged that the SIR process has resulted in eligible voters being removed from electoral rolls on a large scale, disproportionately affecting marginalised and vulnerable communities. Opposition voices have cited figures claiming that approximately 13 crore voters have been excluded so far.

The campaign is seeking to build momentum while the INDIA bloc and the CJP have paused their separate demonstrations against the revision exercise and Gyanesh Kumar. Organisers are encouraging people to stage local protests rather than limiting mobilisation to designated venues in major cities.

Its campaign slogan, “Har haath mein Tiranga, har gali mein Jantar Mantar”, calls for people to carry the national flag and establish neighbourhood-level protest spaces across the country.

The appeal comes after Delhi Police, which operates under the Union Home Ministry, denotified Jantar Mantar as an authorised protest site, restricting its use for demonstrations. The alliance's call to create local versions of the protest venue is intended to widen participation beyond the capital.

SIR row intensifies political confrontation

The electoral roll revision has become a flashpoint between the Election Commission and opposition parties, with the INDIA bloc and the CJP mounting protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in recent weeks.

The controversy intensified following an Indian Express report highlighting alleged disagreements within the Election Commission. The report pointed to 14 objections raised by fellow Election Commissioners over a 10-month period, prompting further questions from the opposition about the decision-making process.

Rahul Gandhi has sought to connect the issue with his broader “vote chori” campaign, accusing the ruling establishment of undermining electoral integrity. The allegations have added to the political confrontation surrounding the SIR exercise.

The October 23 mobilisation will test whether the newly formed alliance can draw wider public participation and sustain pressure on the Election Commission, particularly as organisers seek to take the protest movement into neighbourhoods across the country.