Rahul Gandhi can be PM of Pakistan or Italy, not India: Shehzad Poonawalla
Synopsis
Former BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla's jab — that Rahul Gandhi could be PM of Pakistan, Italy, or Bangkok, but not India — packs a political punch timed ahead of key state polls. He also breaks his silence on quitting the BJP, citing a long-planned return to the private sector after 2024.
Key Takeaways
Shehzad Poonawalla , former BJP spokesperson, on 18 September said Rahul Gandhi could become PM of Pakistan or Italy but not India.
Poonawalla predicted PM Modi would be re-elected in 2029 and again in 2034 with a larger mandate.
He also forecast CM Yogi Adityanath returning to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2027 with a bigger margin than 2017 .
Poonawalla revealed he had planned to exit politics after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to return to the private sector.
He joined the BJP as national spokesperson in 2021 , having previously worked in media.
Political analyst and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday, 18 September 2026, launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, sarcastically suggesting Gandhi could become prime minister of Pakistan, Italy, or Bangkok — countries he allegedly visits frequently — but not of India.
What Poonawalla Said
'Rahul Gandhi can become the Prime Minister but perhaps of Pakistan. If he prefers, of Italy, or whichever country he frequently visits, like Bangkok — if he wishes to take citizenship there, he could become Prime Minister of that country, since he spends most of his time abroad anyway. In India, he only visits briefly between his vacations,' Poonawalla said in remarks to reporters.
The political commentator also predicted with confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be re-elected in 2029 'with an even bigger margin,' and again in 2034 should he choose to contest. He further claimed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would return to power in 2027 with a greater margin than the BJP received in the 2017 Assembly elections.
BJP's Electoral Outlook, Per Poonawalla
Expressing confidence in BJP's future under BJP President Nitin Nabin, Poonawalla asserted the party would form governments in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and even Punjab, in addition to winning the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. 'PM Modi will become the country's Prime Minister for the fourth time. Those who are unable to digest this fact can keep crying,' he added.
Why Poonawalla Left the BJP
Separately, Poonawalla shed light on his decision to resign from the BJP, saying he had been weighing a shift to the private sector since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He noted that when he joined politics in 2021 and became the party's national spokesperson, he had transitioned from a media background where he drew a regular salary.
'After the 2024 elections, it was in my mind to transition to the private sector. The reason behind this was that when I joined politics in 2021 and became the national spokesperson of the BJP, I had previously been in the media. Before that, I drew a regular salary,' he explained. He said he initially decided to stay on briefly given the political situation post-polls but has since moved ahead with his planned departure.
Context and Significance
This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi's foreign travels have been politicised — BJP leaders have repeatedly questioned his time abroad, particularly when Parliament is in session or when major political developments unfold. Critics of such attacks, however, argue they amount to deflection from substantive policy debate. Poonawalla's remarks come at a time when the Congress has been mounting sustained criticism of the ruling dispensation ahead of key state elections.
Point of View
Even as he himself has stepped away from the BJP. The attack is a familiar template: question Gandhi's commitment to India by auditing his travel log rather than engaging with his policy positions. What is more noteworthy is Poonawalla's candid admission about his own exit — it suggests the party's national spokesperson machinery runs on volunteers with limited long-term stakes, raising questions about institutional depth. The BJP's electoral predictions for 2027 and 2029, delivered by a recently departed member, carry the ring of loyalty performance rather than independent analysis.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shehzad Poonawalla say about Rahul Gandhi becoming Prime Minister?
Poonawalla said Rahul Gandhi could become Prime Minister of Pakistan, Italy, or Bangkok — countries he allegedly visits frequently — but not of India. He argued Gandhi spends most of his time abroad and only visits India briefly between vacations.
Who is Shehzad Poonawalla?
Shehzad Poonawalla is a political analyst and former national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who joined the party in 2021 after a career in media. He has since resigned from the BJP and says he is transitioning to the private sector.
Why did Shehzad Poonawalla resign from the BJP?
Poonawalla said he had planned to return to the private sector after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a decision rooted in his earlier media and salaried career before joining politics. He stayed on briefly post-2024 due to the political situation before finally making his exit.
What predictions did Poonawalla make about the 2027 and 2029 elections?
Poonawalla predicted PM Narendra Modi would be re-elected in 2029 with a bigger margin and again in 2034 if he contests, and that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would return to power in 2027 with a margin exceeding the BJP's 2017 Assembly performance.
Has Rahul Gandhi's foreign travel been a political issue before?
Yes, BJP leaders have repeatedly flagged Gandhi's overseas trips, particularly when Parliament is in session or key political events are unfolding in India. Critics of such attacks argue they serve as a distraction from substantive policy debate rather than a serious political critique.
