West Bengal is set to hold Assembly elections later this year, and political activity in the state has already intensified. On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the Kolkata office of political consulting firm IPAC in connection with an alleged coal scam.
The agency also searched the residence of IPAC chief Pratik Jain. IPAC is a political consultancy firm that works with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
During the ED raid at IPAC's office and Pratik Jain's residence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly reached the spot. According to reports, she was seen leaving the IPAC office with files and a laptop. The development has sparked fresh curiosity among the public about IPAC, including how the firm operates, earns money, and its overall value.
What is IPAC, and how did it begin?
IPAC was founded in 2013 by political strategist Prashant Kishor, along with his associates Pratik Jain, Rishiraj Singh, and Vinesh Chandel. It was initially named Citizens for Accountable Governance and was later renamed the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC). The firm was created to support political parties and leaders with election strategies, organisational strengthening, and data-driven decision-making.
Prashant Kishor first gained national attention through IPAC during the 2014 general elections, when he handled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election campaign. Later, the firm worked with Nitish Kumar in Bihar, Amarinder Singh in Punjab, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, and the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. Reports suggest that Prashant Kishor officially stepped away from the company in 2021, after which Pratik Jain, Rishiraj Singh and Vinesh Chandel became its directors.
How does IPAC earn money?
IPAC's main source of income comes from political consultancy services provided to parties and leaders during elections. The firm offers end-to-end campaign support, including candidate selection, ground surveys, voter data analysis, campaign planning, social media outreach and political messaging. Political parties pay significant fees for these services, which vary depending on the scale of the election and the project.
What is IPAC's estimated net worth?
As IPAC is a private political consulting firm, its exact net worth is not publicly available. However, media reports suggest that due to its involvement in major election campaigns across several large states, the company's valuation is estimated to be worth several crores of rupees. With long-term partnerships and high-profile political assignments, IPAC's influence and earnings have continued to grow over the years.