The political backroom ecosystem in India has seen a significant increase in size, importance, and influence over the years, particularly in the run-up to the upcoming elections. Political consultancy firms have witnessed unprecedented growth and are now actively hiring top talent from leading B-schools, IITs, IIMs, and universities. These firms play a crucial role in various aspects of electioneering, including political consultancy, surveys, managing communication, resource management, and logistics.
Political consultants work closely with party leaders to understand their vision, requirements, and goals, and devise time-bound plans to achieve these goals. Technology tools and data are used to take surveys to the micro level, providing more precise findings that guide campaign strategies and candidate selection. Social media and media campaigns are strategically tailored to target specific groups of voters, and internal party management is digitized for efficient day-to-day operations.
Several key players dominate the political consultancy landscape, such as IPAC, Inclusive Minds, ABM, Varahe Analytics, Designboxed, Jarvis Consulting, Showtime Consulting, Politique Advisors, and Rajneethi, each working with different political parties and individual clients. The industry currently employs close to 30,000 people across various levels for fixed durations, with an estimated value of Rs 2,000-2,500 crore.
While the industry has gained acceptance among politicians, there is a lack of acknowledgment from them, which has delayed campaign consultancy in India from becoming a full-fledged industry. Nonetheless, the future of political consultancy in India looks promising, given the growing demand, increased investment, and the critical role these firms play in shaping and executing election campaigns. As the business continues to expand, it offers new opportunities for professionals and is set to become a significant and influential industry in the Indian political landscape.