After leaders like Mamata Banerjee and M. K. Stalin partnered with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav has now enlisted the political consultancy ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
I-PAC, founded by Prashant Kishor (who has since distanced himself from the organisation), is set to assist the party with booth-level surveys, grassroots mobilisation, data-driven strategy, and identification of key electoral issues. Party insiders indicate that the initiative will involve significant financial investment, with I-PAC already conducting micro-level surveys across constituencies.
According to SP national vice-president Kiranmoy Nanda, I-PAC’s role is primarily supervisory, aimed at strengthening booth-level structures. He stated that the party’s booth network has remained strong since 2022, but closer monitoring is required to ensure optimal performance in the upcoming elections.
Sources suggest that I-PAC’s association with the Samajwadi Party was recommended by Mamata Banerjee. The consultancy has previously worked with several major political leaders and parties, including Narendra Modi (2014), Nitish Kumar (2015), Jagan Mohan Reddy (2019), Arvind Kejriwal (2020 & 2025), MK Stalin (2021), and Mamata Banerjee (2021).
The Samajwadi Party is reportedly planning to announce candidates well in advance — possibly before the end of 2026 — to provide them sufficient time for campaigning. Akhilesh Yadav is expected to make the final decision on candidate selection.
Additionally, SP leaders have emphasised vigilance regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating their focus is to prevent discrepancies in voter lists ahead of the 2027 contest.
In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party secured 111 seats, marking a significant improvement over its 2017 performance. The party had contested in alliance with several regional outfits, though some later aligned with the ruling NDA.
As the 2027 elections approach, the engagement of I-PAC signals a more structured and data-backed campaign strategy by the Samajwadi Party in its bid to challenge the BJP in India’s most populous state.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
