“Dictators end in handcuffs”: Nirmala Sitharaman’s husband
In a recent interview, Parakala Prabhakar, a distinguished economist and prominent critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and also the spouse of BJP leader and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, made significant assertions regarding the BJP’s electoral prospects.
Speaking to The Wire, Prabhakar forecasted that contrary to the BJP’s optimistic ‘400 paar’ (‘over 400’) confidence, the party would secure between 200 and 220 seats in the Lok Sabha, potentially leaving the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) short of a majority.
Further, commenting on the potential fate of the BJP, he suggested that historically, most dictatorial regimes have ended either with their leaders in handcuffs or in coffins.
Additionally, Prabhakar anticipated the formation of a non-BJP government on June 5, following the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results.
While the Congress has been optimistic about its prospects of weakening the BJP’s stronghold in the southern half of the country, Prabhakar’s predictions pointed towards a disappointing outcome for the saffron party in the northern half too.
His projections indicated a significant decline in the BJP’s presence in northern India, with an anticipated loss of approximately “80-95” Lok Sabha seats.
Notably, Prabhakar had previously cautioned against re-electing Narendra Modi, warning of potential repercussions, including territorial changes, if the BJP were to secure victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He also raised concerns about the possibility of widespread unrest akin to the situations in Ladakh and Manipur if Modi were to secure re-election.
