HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has appointed political analyst and former Praja Rajyam Party leader Parakala Prabhakar as his media advisor. He will have the same status as a state Cabinet minister.
Prabhakar’s wife Nirmala Sitaraman is the Union minister of State for Commerce and Industry. Prabhakar was active during the height of Samaikyandhra agitation. He had moderated TV shows on social and political issues.
Prabhakar earlier worked as BJP spokesperson, and in 2008, joined Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party and played an active role. But he quit the party before 2009 polls due to differences in selecting candidates. Since then, he has been keeping away from active politics.
He played key role in the movement opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh state. He founded Visalandhra Mahasabha and organised several programmes, brought out many publications and mobilised support from several quarters to keep unity of the state.
Parakala Prabhakar married Nirmala Sitaraman in 1986; has one daughter. His mother was a Congress MLA, while his father Parakala Seshavatharam was a Minister in the Congress government in the 1970s.
Prabhakar Studied in London School of Economics. He did his Masters and M.Phil from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
Pol. Career
■ He founded Visalandhra Mahasabha, organised several programmes and mobilised support from several quarters to keep the unity of the state
■ Prabhakar’s wife Nirmala Sitharaman is the Union minister of state for commerce