BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has announced his decision to leave the party, ending his association with the organisation after nearly five years.

Poonawalla said he has sent his resignation to BJP national president Nitin Nabin, asking him to accept his decision. His resignation covers both his position as the party's national spokesperson and his primary membership.

According to Poonawalla, this was not his first attempt to step away. He said he had submitted his resignation on July 30, but the party leadership had asked him to reconsider instead of accepting it.

After reflecting on the matter, however, he said he had decided to go ahead with his resignation.

Says recent events reinforced his decision

In his resignation letter, Poonawalla referred to developments involving certain individuals but did not identify them or provide details. He said those events had strengthened his resolve to leave.

At the same time, he expressed gratitude towards the BJP leadership and said his decision was not motivated by bitterness.

Poonawalla specifically thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Nitin Nabin, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh for the opportunities he received during his time in the party.

Poonawalla to move to private sector

Explaining his next step, Poonawalla said he was leaving politics because of urgent financial and personal circumstances and planned to enter the private sector.

He also made it clear that leaving the BJP's organisational structure did not mean he was distancing himself from its broader political outlook.

Poonawalla said he would continue to support Modi's leadership and the BJP's work wherever possible, while describing his departure as leaving the organisation rather than abandoning the people or ideology associated with it.

His decision had been preceded by a change to his profile on X in late July. He removed the reference to himself as a BJP national spokesperson, while continuing to describe himself as a lifelong follower of Prime Minister Modi.

From Congress critic to BJP spokesperson

Poonawalla, a lawyer by profession, entered politics through the Congress before eventually joining the BJP.

He became widely known in 2017 after publicly questioning the Congress's internal leadership election process. He had alleged that the process was designed to favour Rahul Gandhi for the party president's post.

He subsequently left the Congress and joined the BJP, eventually becoming one of the party's prominent television debate representatives.

His resignation now marks another significant shift in his political career, although Poonawalla has indicated that he intends to continue supporting the BJP's broader political vision outside the party organisation.