Samajwadi Party Cancels Agreement with Political Consultancy Ahead of 2027 Elections
In a significant political move, the Samajwadi Party has opted to cancel its proposed agreement with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. This decision follows a series of controversies, including the poor performance of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the arrest of an I-PAC director. As the party navigates its electoral strategy, the implications of this cancellation could reshape the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh. Read on to discover more about the challenges faced by I-PAC and the potential impact on upcoming elections.
May 6, 2026, 13:55 IST
Political Shift for Samajwadi Party
Recent reports indicate that the Samajwadi Party has decided to terminate its proposed agreement with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. This decision comes in light of the poor performance of the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly elections and the recent arrest of I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel by the Enforcement Directorate over alleged financial irregularities linked to the Bengal coal smuggling case.
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According to sources, the agreement between the Samajwadi Party and I-PAC was nearly finalized, with the consultancy presenting its electoral strategy to the party leadership. However, no formal contract had been signed yet. Insiders suggest that party chief Akhilesh Yadav was not keen on hiring I-PAC and only considered their proposal at the behest of TMC leadership. Furthermore, sources indicated that I-PAC is currently facing several challenges, making further negotiations with the Samajwadi Party unlikely.
I-PAC, which has been managing the Trinamool Congress's election campaigns since 2019, had offered its services to the Samajwadi Party as it prepares for the upcoming electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, sources claim that I-PAC is not in a position to take on new projects due to crises on multiple fronts. During the election campaign in West Bengal, the Enforcement Directorate raided I-PAC's Kolkata office, leading to a confrontation between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the agency.
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This firm, led by Pratik Jain, was established by Prashant Kishor, who gained fame for designing election campaigns for various political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in 2015, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 2017, among others.