The Samajwadi Party has decided to discontinue its plan to take election strategy support from I-PAC, a political consultancy known for working with major parties across India. The move comes in the backdrop of the Trinamool Congress’ defeat in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly election.
I-PAC was earlier led by Prashant Kishor, who later launched his own party in Bihar and handed over responsibilities to colleagues. The firm is currently associated with co-founder Prateek Jain, and had also advised the DMK during the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
In West Bengal, I-PAC advised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. During a probe linked to an alleged coal scam, the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at I-PAC’s Kolkata office and at locations including Prateek Jain’s residence, triggering controversy after Mamata Banerjee reportedly intervened at the search site.
On the same day as the Kolkata searches, an I-PAC team was briefing Samajwadi Party leaders in Lucknow on election plans. Speaking later, party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the party had been working with I-PAC for the 2027 Assembly election, but ended the arrangement because it could not afford the fee demanded by the firm.
Yadav said the decision should not be linked to recent electoral defeats and insisted it was purely due to financial constraints. Political observers, however, have suggested the decision may also be influenced by I-PAC’s recent election outcomes and the firm being in the spotlight amid the ongoing ED action.
