Poonawalla's exit comes as a surprising turn of events within the party structure, as he had been relentlessly defending the BJP's policies and positions across various media platforms and public forums over the years.
Removal of BJP Title From X Bio Served as Initial Hint
Shortly before the official confirmation of his resignation, Shehzad Poonawalla raised eyebrows by making a significant update to his profile bio on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He completely removed the title "National Spokesperson, BJP" from his profile.Sharing a screenshot of his updated bio, he defined his identity as:
"Religion: Islam, Culture: Hindu, Ideology: Indian, Author: 'The Journey of GST'"
Alongside this, he explicitly described himself as a 'Lifelong follower of PM Narendra Modi'.
Distance From Active Politics and Focus on Public Service
Following his resignation, Poonawalla re-shared several clips from his past interviews on social media, elaborating on his perspective regarding politics and social contribution.According to Poonawalla, political contribution should not be limited to winning elections or becoming a Member of Parliament or Legislative Assembly. A person can make significant contributions to the nation and society without holding electoral office. He stated that his entry into politics was not driven by power or positions, and his primary goal was to see the NDA government formed for a third term under the leadership of Narendra Modi. He further mentioned that he had contemplated stepping back from active politics right after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, though organizational commitments delayed the move by two years.
Journey From Rebellious Congress Member to BJP Spokesperson
Shehzad Poonawalla’s political trajectory has been remarkably dynamic and vocal. He was originally associated with the Congress party. However, in December 2017, during the Congress presidential elections, he openly revolted against the leadership. He quit the party after alleging dynastic bias and irregularities in the electoral process involving Rahul Gandhi.He later formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2021. Backed by his strong communication skills and sharp rhetoric, he was appointed as a National Spokesperson. During his tenure with the BJP, he became widely recognized for his fierce debates and strong counters against opposition parties.
