After TMC, DMK Defeats, Samajwadi Party Pulls Plug On I-PAC’s UP Election Role

The Samajwadi Party has decided to part ways with election strategy firm I-PAC ahead of the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, marking another major political setback for the organisation after recent defeats suffered by parties it worked with in Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav confirmed on Wednesday that the party would no longer continue its arrangement with the poll management company founded by Prashant Kishor. According to sources, the firm had been assigned to work in constituencies where the SP narrowly lost in the 2022 Assembly election.

Akhilesh Yadav Says Funding Constraints Behind Decision

While political circles linked the move to the poor performances of I-PAC-backed parties in recent state elections, Akhilesh Yadav insisted financial limitations were the primary reason for ending the partnership.

"Yes, we had an association (with them). They worked with us for a few months, but we are not able to continue because we do not have that kind of funding," he said.

Even after ending ties with I-PAC, the Samajwadi Party is expected to continue working with another election management and social media consultancy, Showtime, with whom it reportedly signed an agreement around two months ago.

Bengal, Tamil Nadu Results Trigger Questions Around I-PAC

The development comes shortly after major defeats for two opposition parties that had relied on I-PAC during their campaigns in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

The All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee suffered a crushing loss to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bengal, with the BJP winning 207 of the state's 294 seats. In Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam under M. K. Stalin was defeated by actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

The scale of the defeats drew greater attention because both Mamata Banerjee and MK Stalin lost from their own stronghold constituencies.

Despite Akhilesh Yadav publicly dismissing any link between those results and SP's decision, sources indicated the recent election outcomes contributed to growing concerns within the party ahead of the high-stakes UP election.

ED Probe And Arrest Of I-PAC Co-Founder Added Pressure

Another factor that reportedly affected the SP's assessment was the Enforcement Directorate investigation involving I-PAC co-founder Vinesh Chandel.

Chandel was arrested in April in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged coal scam in Bengal. The ED claimed a hawala operator connected to alleged coal smugglers helped transfer large amounts of money to Indian PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd, the company behind I-PAC.

Investigators alleged the company used a financial model to convert black money into white money, claiming payments were received partly through formal banking channels and partly in cash transactions. Chandel was granted bail last week.

Sources said the arrest created doubts within the Samajwadi Party about I-PAC's ability to effectively manage a high-pressure election campaign.

UP Poll Seen As Critical Battle For Akhilesh Yadav

The 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election is widely being viewed as a decisive political test for Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party, which remains one of the strongest opposition forces against the BJP in the state.

Recent setbacks faced by opposition leaders across the country have further raised the stakes. Mamata Banerjee's defeat in Bengal, the DMK's loss in Tamil Nadu and Arvind Kejriwal losing power in Delhi have significantly reduced the number of prominent leaders challenging the BJP nationally.

Reports also suggested I-PAC had begun scaling down operations in Bengal and Tamil Nadu during the final phase of campaigning, possibly due to pressure arising from the ED investigation. The company reportedly downsized teams in Uttar Pradesh as well, affecting preparations for the Samajwadi Party's campaign.

Feedback from SP's local units and organisational workers is also believed to have influenced the final call to discontinue the partnership.