The Samajwadi Party has terminated its partnership with election consultancy I-PAC for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, citing ongoing legal issues involving the firm and its diminished electoral performance in recent state polls. The decision follows the April arrest of I-PAC co-founder Vinesh Chandel by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the alleged West Bengal coal smuggling scam.

Authorities allege that I-PAC received funds through both formal banking channels and informal hawala networks, with Chandel accused of helping convert illicit money into legitimate revenue. The firm, founded by poll strategist Prashant Kishor, had been contracted by SP to focus on constituencies with narrow defeat margins in the 2022 UP polls. However, internal party assessments and field feedback reportedly raised concerns over I-PAC's effectiveness and operational capacity.

I-PAC's recent electoral setbacks in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where its clients Trinamool Congress and DMK suffered major losses, further undermined confidence. In both states, party leaders Mamata Banerjee and M.K. Stalin lost their own seats, and I-PAC was observed scaling back operations during the final campaign phase. Reports also indicate a reduction in I-PAC's UP office staff, affecting coordination with SP's ground teams.

The Samajwadi Party will continue its electoral preparations with Showtime, a social media and campaign management firm, under a contract signed two months ago. The party is expected to announce a revised strategy for the 2027 polls in the coming weeks.