Former BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has opened up about his decision to resign from the party, saying financial and personal pressures played a major role in his exit.
Speaking to NDTV, Poonawalla said his political role had become difficult to sustain financially and that he needed to find a source of income.
“I need to pay my rent. My landlord is not going to give me free rent because I’m from the BJP,” Poonawalla said.
He also claimed that political parties generally do not pay their spokespersons. According to him, his role required a “24X7, 365 days a year” commitment but was no longer financially sustainable.
When asked whether financial circumstances were a factor in his resignation, Poonawalla responded, “Absolutely!”
‘I don’t come from legacy’
Poonawalla further explained his circumstances by using the phrase “neither leta nor beta”, saying he neither received significant financial benefits nor belonged to a political family.
“I don’t come from legacy,” he said.
The former BJP spokesperson also dismissed speculation that he was unhappy about being excluded from the party’s latest organisational reshuffle. He said he had not expected to be included in the new team and pointed out that spokespersons do not have a say in such organisational decisions.
The BJP recently announced its new organisational team, bringing back leaders including Smriti Irani and Ram Madhav.
Why did Shehzad Poonawalla resign from BJP?
Poonawalla resigned from all BJP posts and primary membership after initially offering to step down on July 30. He said the party had asked him to reconsider at the time, but he eventually decided to proceed after “long and hard contemplation.”
In his resignation statement, Poonawalla cited pressing emergency financial and personal circumstances and said he would move into the private sector.
However, he made it clear that his departure from the organisation did not mean a break with the party’s leadership or ideology.
“I am only leaving the Vyavastha (organisation) not the Vyakti (people) or Vichar (ideology),” he said.
Poonawalla also said that, wherever possible, he would continue to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s vision.
His resignation came after months of speculation about his political future. Last month, he had edited his X bio and removed references to his position as BJP national spokesperson, further fuelling questions about his association with the party.
Poonawalla’s next move
With his resignation, Poonawalla is now looking towards opportunities in the private sector. His comments suggest that financial sustainability, rather than a major ideological disagreement with the BJP, was central to his decision.
While stepping away from the party organisation, he has maintained that he continues to support its leadership and ideological position.
