Dr. Parakala Prabhakar, political economist and husband of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has emerged as a vocal critic of alleged voting irregularities in India’s 2024 elections. In interviews and public statements, he has raised concerns about discrepancies in voter turnout data—particularly in Maharashtra and Jharkhand—questioning the integrity of the electoral process.

In a November 28, 2024 interview with The Wire, Prabhakar highlighted a dramatic and “mathematically impossible” surge in Maharashtra’s voter turnout. He noted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) reported 58.22% turnout (approx. 5.65 crore votes) at 5:00 PM on November 20. By 11:30 PM, this rose to 65.02% (6.31 crore votes), and just before counting began on November 23, it was further revised to 66.05%—an overall increase of 76 lakh votes or 7.83%. He argued that such jumps are unprecedented, as historical revisions are typically under 1%.

“The Election Commission is asking us to believe that an additional 76 lakh people voted after polls closed,” he remarked, questioning the legitimacy of the outcome. His claims gained traction online, with users like @MrDemocratic_ alleging BJP manipulation in 79 Lok Sabha seats. Prabhakar also pointed out that final turnout figures for the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections—where BJP had a high strike rate—remain unreleased.

At an August 14 seminar hosted by the Ernakulam District Congress Committee, Prabhakar cited a Vote for Democracy report alleging that five crore votes were “dumped” between initial and final turnout figures, possibly favoring the BJP-led NDA. 

He urged public scrutiny of the ECI, warning that such discrepancies erode democratic trust. Prabhakar’s critique has drawn attention due to his ties to Sitharaman, a senior BJP leader. His earlier comments calling electoral bonds “the biggest scam in the world” and predicting electoral fallout for the BJP further underscore his break from the ruling party’s stance. The ECI has yet to respond to his specific allegations.