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
