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
Akhilesh Yadav Cuts I-PAC Ties For 2027 UP Poll The Samajwadi Party has announced it will not collaborate with the election management firm I-PAC for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, marking a significant shift in its political strategy. Party leader Akhilesh Yadav stated the decision was driven by a lack of funding, though sources suggest the break-up also follows the arrest of Vinesh Chandel, a co-founder of I-PAC, in a money laundering case tied to an alleged coal scam in West Bengal. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of I-PAC’s operations and its role in recent election campaigns. I-PAC, founded by poll strategist Prashant Kishor, had been working with the Samajwadi Party to target constituencies where the party faced narrow margins of defeat in the 2022 elections. However, Yadav’s party will reportedly continue its electoral efforts through Showtime, a second firm with which it signed a contract two months prior. When asked about the I-PAC deal’s cancellation, Yadav humorously remarked, “We simply don’t have funds. If you (the media) give us funds, we can hire another company.” The decision to end the partnership with I-PAC follows the poor performance of two major opposition parties in recent state elections. The Trinamool Congress, which had previously collaborated with I-PAC, suffered a crushing defeat in Bengal, losing 207 of 294 seats to the BJP. Similarly, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu was ousted by Vijay’s new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, despite both Mamata Banerjee and MK Stalin losing their seats in strongholds. These results have raised questions about the effectiveness of I-PAC’s strategies and the broader opposition’s ability to challenge the BJP.#enforcement_directorate #akhilesh_yadav #ipac #vinesh_chandel #prashant_kishor
Samajwadi Party Cancels I-PAC Tie-Up for 2027 UP Polls Amid Legal and Political Challenges The Samajwadi Party (SP) has officially terminated its planned collaboration with the political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, according to a report by The Indian Express. The decision, finalized earlier this year, is now described as “off the table” due to a combination of legal troubles, recent electoral setbacks, and internal party concerns. The move follows the arrest of I-PAC director Vinesh Chandel by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged financial irregularities tied to the Bengal coal smuggling case, which has severely impacted the firm’s credibility and operations. The report highlights that the ED’s raids on I-PAC offices and Chandel’s arrest created significant uncertainty for the consultancy’s clients, including the SP. A source close to the firm stated that the legal developments “left the deal on shaky ground,” prompting doubts about I-PAC’s ability to manage large-scale campaigns. Additionally, the SP’s internal unease over reliance on external consultants intensified after the arrest, with party leaders questioning the effectiveness of such partnerships. A senior SP leader told The Indian Express that the uncertainty surrounding Chandel’s case, combined with recent electoral losses by parties like the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)—both of which had previously engaged I-PAC—led to a reassessment of the alliance. The fallout from the Bengal case extended beyond legal issues. I-PAC reportedly scaled back operations in West Bengal, shutting some offices and reducing staff strength.#uttar_pradesh #enforcement_directorate #samajwadi_party #ipac #vinesh_chandel
Mamata Banerjee TMC I-PAC Office ED Raid Case Update The Supreme Court on Thursday addressed the ongoing legal battle over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the I-PAC office and the residence of its director, Pratik Jain, in Kolkata. The court raised concerns about the potential flood of petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to constitutional remedies. Justice P.K. Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria warned that if the court continues to entertain such cases, it could become overwhelmed with petitions from public officials, including the Chief Minister. The ED had argued that its officers faced personal and professional threats during the January 8 raid, which targeted I-PAC, a political consultancy firm linked to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The agency claimed that the raid was part of a 2020 money laundering investigation into a coal smuggling case involving Anoop Mazumdar, a businessman accused of orchestrating illegal coal extraction from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECOL). The ED alleged that I-PAC facilitated the transfer of ₹20 crore via hawala channels to launder the proceeds. During the hearing, the court questioned whether the ED’s actions violated the principle of "rule of law" and whether the agency’s officers had the right to bypass administrative channels to approach the Supreme Court directly. The ED defended its actions, stating that the raid was necessary to prevent the loss of critical evidence, including digital devices and documents. However, the court highlighted the contradiction in allowing ED officers to bypass procedures while denying similar rights to the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. The case gained prominence after Mamata allegedly entered the I-PAC office during the raid, allegedly taking files and electronic devices.#mamata_banerjee #trinamool_congress #enforcement_directorate #ipac #vinay_chandel
TMC Dismisses Reports of I-PAC Halting WB Operations, Mamata Promises Jobs for Staffers The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday categorically rejected allegations that the political consultancy firm I-PAC had suspended its operations in West Bengal, calling the claims “completely baseless” and accusing the BJP-led central government of orchestrating a conspiracy to undermine the party’s election campaign. The TMC’s sharp rebuttal came hours after media reports suggested I-PAC, which has been a key partner in the party’s electoral efforts since 2021, had instructed its employees in the state to halt work immediately and take a 20-day leave. According to a newspaper report, an email purportedly sent by I-PAC to its staff late on Saturday night cited “legal obligations” and stated that operations in West Bengal would remain suspended until May 11. However, the I-PAC has not yet issued an official statement confirming or denying the claims. In response, the TMC released an official communiqué asserting that the firm had not withdrawn from the party’s campaign. The statement emphasized that the I-PAC team in West Bengal “remains fully engaged” with the TMC and that campaign activities across the state were proceeding as planned. The TMC’s statement also accused the BJP and central agencies of attempting to sow confusion and distract from the “clear mood on the ground,” with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowing that the electorate of West Bengal would “respond democratically” to any such efforts. Banerjee, who addressed an election rally in Tarakeswar, accused the BJP and central authorities of trying to intimidate not only the TMC but also its workers.#mamata_banerjee #trinamool_congress #enforcement_directorate #ipac #prateek_jain
