Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav announced the termination of the party's contract with political consultancy Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), attributing the decision to insufficient funds. The move comes amid speculation that recent electoral outcomes, including the BJP's victory in West Bengal, may have influenced the split, which Yadav explicitly denied during a press conference in Lucknow.

The SP had engaged I-PAC for a short period ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, but Yadav stated the party could no longer sustain the financial burden of such consultancy services. He dismissed suggestions to hire multiple agencies for surveys, social media management, and negative campaigning, mocking the growing ecosystem of political consultants.

I-PAC, a prominent election strategy firm, has previously worked with major national parties and was associated with strategist Prashant Kishor. While opposition parties have increasingly relied on data-driven campaigns, Yadav indicated the SP would scale back such expenditures due to budgetary limits.

The party did not announce any alternative campaign strategy or replacement for I-PAC. The SP will focus on internal preparations for the 2027 state elections, with senior leaders expected to outline a revised roadmap in the coming weeks.