Samajwadi Party Ends Contract with I-PAC Over Funding Issues Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav announced on May 6, 2026, that his party has terminated its contract with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) due to financial constraints. Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav clarified that the decision was not linked to recent election outcomes in states like West Bengal, dismissing speculation about political motivations. He emphasized that the party could not sustain the partnership because of insufficient funding, stating, “We are not able to continue because we do not have that kind of funding.” The I-PAC, a prominent political consultancy firm, had been engaged by the Samajwadi Party for a short period ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Yadav confirmed that the collaboration lasted only a few months before the party could no longer afford the arrangement. He acknowledged the firm’s reputation for managing large-scale election campaigns across the country, noting that I-PAC had previously worked with multiple parties, including the BJP and Congress. Yadav also took a critical stance toward the broader political consultancy ecosystem, joking about the proliferation of agencies offering services such as opinion polling, social media management, and even negative campaigning. “There are one or two more companies whose names are not yet known,” he remarked, hinting at potential future partnerships if funding became available. The party leader categorically rejected claims that the termination of the I-PAC contract was influenced by the results of recent state elections, including those in West Bengal. “There is no such thing,” he said, urging the media to avoid baseless speculation.#uttar_pradesh #samajwadi_party #akhilesh_yadav #ipac #2027_up_elections
