After months of silence following the YSR Congress Party's (YSRCP) humiliating defeat in the Andhra Pradesh elections, the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the political strategy agency responsible for crafting the party’s election strategy, has resumed its work with the party over the past two months.
Although Jagan Mohan Reddy was initially reluctant to re-engage I-PAC, now led by Rishi Raj Singh, his core team reportedly convinced him to continue with the agency, citing its familiarity with the party’s dynamics and ground realities.
They argued that it was better to stick with the "old devil" than risk hiring a new agency, which might require starting from scratch.
They also pointed out that I-PAC, having analyzed its missteps in the last elections, could offer solutions to rectify past mistakes.
Jagan has reportedly re-hired I-PAC for a consultancy fee of â¹2 crore per month, amounting to â¹24 crore annually and a potential â¹96 crore over the next four years.
The team has been tasked with rebuilding the YSRCP's image and formulating strategies to expose the perceived shortcomings of the Naidu government.
However, sources suggest that I-PAC has already started steering Jagan in the wrong direction by pushing him into agitation mode within six months of losing power, instead of focusing on rebuilding the party, which has been in disarray since the electoral loss.
What’s more surprising is that I-PAC team members are reportedly in touch with rival strategy firms, such as Showtime Consulting, led by Robbin Sharma (which worked for the TDP), and Minshare Analytics, headed by Sunil Kanugolu (which supported the Congress in Telangana).
Despite working for competing parties, these firms reportedly maintain good relationships and often exchange ideas.
“These political strategy agencies might work for different parties, but they share a common goal: to make quick money. If their client wins, they take credit; if not, they quietly exit after collecting their fees,” an analyst remarked.
Even before the elections, I-PAC team members were reportedly in contact with Robbin Sharma’s team to discuss certain political issues. This raises questions about the gullibility of political parties that place their trust in such firms, sources added.