Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has reportedly resigned from the party, triggering political speculation over his next move. Sources cited by multiple reports said Poonawalla submitted his resignation to the BJP leadership on Thursday, citing personal reasons. However, neither Poonawalla nor the BJP has issued an official confirmation of the resignation so far.
The development came into focus after Poonawalla changed his profile on X, formerly known as Twitter. His earlier identification as the BJP’s national spokesperson was removed from the bio. His updated profile now describes him as a “lifelong follower” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while also referring to his religion, culture and ideology.
The change immediately led to questions about whether the prominent BJP voice had formally left the party. Poonawalla, however, has not publicly announced his resignation or explained the reason for the change.
The latest developments are particularly notable because Poonawalla has been one of the BJP’s most visible television and social media spokespersons. He regularly appeared in political debates, where he strongly defended the Narendra Modi government and attacked opposition parties, particularly the Congress. His departure, if formally confirmed, would therefore mark a significant change in the political career of a leader who has built a national profile through public debates and political commentary.
Adding to the speculation were a series of old videos that Poonawalla recently shared or reposted on X. In these clips, he spoke about his decision to eventually step away from active politics and argued that a person’s contribution to society should not be measured only through electoral success.
In one of the videos, Poonawalla said he had already considered the 2024 Lok Sabha election his final election. He explained that he had initially planned to leave active politics after the polls but chose to remain involved because several important state elections were approaching. These included elections in West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra and Bihar.
Poonawalla said the political objective and electoral objective should not necessarily be treated as the same thing. According to him, people can contribute to the country and society even without becoming elected representatives. His recent decision to reshare those remarks has been seen as another indication that he may have been preparing to move away from active electoral politics.
Interestingly, on Friday, even as speculation about his political future grew, Poonawalla shared a video interview in which he continued to praise the BJP. In the clip, he argued that the BJP provides opportunities to people without political families and pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an example of a self-made political leader. He described the BJP as the best option for young people.
This has added an unusual element to the developments. While his social media profile no longer carries the BJP designation, Poonawalla continues to describe himself as a follower of Modi. His Instagram profile, meanwhile, was still carrying his BJP national spokesperson designation when reports emerged about the X bio change.
Poonawalla’s political journey has itself been closely linked to his opposition to dynastic politics. He was earlier associated with the Congress but broke away from the party in 2017 after publicly questioning the process surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s elevation within the organisation. He subsequently joined the BJP and rose to prominence as one of its national spokespersons.
Over the years, he became a familiar face on television news channels and political platforms. Known for his outspoken style, Poonawalla frequently targeted Congress leaders and defended the BJP’s policies and leadership. In 2021, he was also given responsibility for the party’s social media wing in Delhi, according to India Today.
The reported resignation has therefore raised questions not only about Poonawalla’s association with the BJP but also about whether he intends to leave active politics altogether. His recent comments suggest that the possibility has been on his mind for some time.
Until such confirmation comes, the removal of the BJP reference from his X bio, his comments about stepping away from active politics and his continued description of himself as a Modi supporter remain the key clues to his political future. The coming days are likely to clarify whether Poonawalla has simply changed his political role or has taken a definitive step away from the BJP.
