Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party (SP), announced the termination of their contract with Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), led by Prashant Kishor, due to financial constraints. The decision follows a review of the party’s financial position after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
I-PAC was engaged for the Lok Sabha polls and previously worked with SP in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. While Yadav acknowledged I-PAC’s contributions, he stated the party could no longer sustain the financial commitment required to continue the association.
The SP faced significant financial challenges during the recent Lok Sabha campaign, impacting their ability to fully fund I-PAC’s strategies and activities. Yadav indicated the party’s financial resources were stretched, making it difficult to maintain the contractual agreement.
He emphasized that the decision wasn’t a reflection of I-PAC’s performance but a pragmatic response to the party’s economic realities. The SP aims to restructure its campaign strategy and resource allocation in light of this change.
Sources suggest the contract termination was a mutual decision, reached after discussions between SP leaders and I-PAC representatives. The financial aspect was a key factor, with the SP reportedly finding the fees charged by I-PAC substantial.
Yadav affirmed the SP will continue to rely on its own organizational strength and cadre base for future electoral campaigns. The party intends to strengthen its internal mechanisms for strategy development and implementation. This move signals a shift towards greater self-reliance within the SP, reducing dependence on external consultants for political guidance. The SP plans to build a stronger financial foundation to support future campaigns independently.
