Parakala Prabhakar questions if governments elected post 2014 were illegal

Economist and political commentator Parakala Prabhakarat a public hearing held by Telangana Voter Rights Forum in Hyderabad. File | Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G Economist and political commentator Parakala Prabhakar called the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls an exercise to create two classes of Indians by disenfranchising several marginalised sections of the population.Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments declaring three crore deleted voters as ‘illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh', Mr. Prabhakar questioned if the legislative bodies and the elected governments post 2014, 2019 and 2024 elections were unlawful.“If that is true, please resign and conduct elections after purification of voters list,” he challenged, while addressing a press meet organised by Telangana Voter Rights Forum on Tuesday (November 3, 2026).The citizens marked ‘permanently shifted’ must have moved somewhere increasing the number there, but in all States and constituencies, the number of voters is on the decline, he observed.Recalling the Supreme Court order from May 27 seeking submission of a list of illegal immigrants identified in SIR within four months, Mr. Prabhakar said five months after the order, even a small list has not been produced.“The Home Minister should have mentioned the number of illegal immigrants State wise. Making flippant comments instead, he brought down the stature of his post,” he said.Academic and activist G. Haragopal said elections lacking credibility will endanger democracy and sought scrapping of the SIR process. Published - November 03, 2026 04:11 pm IST