Shehzad Poonawalla on BJP exit: Had planned to leave politics after 2024 polls
Synopsis
Shehzad Poonawalla's BJP exit wasn't driven by ideology — it was driven by a spreadsheet. He says he ran the numbers after joining in 2021, concluded he could sustain unpaid political work only until end-2024, and stuck around only because the BJP's 240-seat result made leaving feel untimely. The revelation reframes a high-profile resignation as a planned, personal financial call rather than a political break.
Key Takeaways
Shehzad Poonawalla resigned from the BJP , saying a move to the private sector had been planned since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections .
He joined the BJP as national spokesperson in 2021 and had calculated his savings would sustain full-time unpaid political work only until end-2024 .
The BJP's 240-seat tally in 2024 led him to delay his exit through the Bengal elections .
Poonawalla said his goal was never to become an MP or MLA — he describes himself as mission-driven, not position-driven.
He made remarks on the Umar Khalid documentary row, actor Swara Bhasker's comments on the Ram Mandir verdict, and predicted Narendra Modi would win again in 2029 .
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday, 18 September 2026, opened up about his departure from the party, revealing that a shift to the private sector had been on his mind since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking in an interview, Poonawalla said financial constraints and a pre-set personal timeline were central to his decision — not political disillusionment.
The Financial Calculation Behind the Exit
Poonawalla, who joined the BJP as its national spokesperson in 2021 after stints in media, said he had always envisioned politics as a temporary phase. '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 said.
He added that sustaining full-time political work without a salary had a finite horizon for him. 'When I joined politics and dedicated myself to it 24/7, I calculated how much savings I had and how many years I would be able to sustain working like this. When I realised that remaining active in a political party would only be feasible until the end of 2024, I had already made up my mind,' he said.
Why the 2024 Election Result Made Him Stay Longer
The BJP's tally of 240 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections — short of an outright majority — prompted Poonawalla to defer his exit. 'Given the post-2024 election situation, where the tally stood at 240, I felt that leaving at that critical juncture would not be right. There were also crucial state elections approaching, and I wanted to contribute as much as I could,' he said.
He indicated that it was only after the Bengal elections that he concluded the time had come to step away. Notably, Poonawalla was explicit that seeking elected office was never part of his plan. 'My goal has never been to become an MP or an MLA. I do not work for positions; I work for a mission and a vision. Even today, I continue to work for the mission and vision of the BJP. I do not chase titles or posts; I believe in building stature,' he said.
Poonawalla on the Umar Khalid Documentary Row
The former BJP spokesperson also weighed in on the controversy surrounding a documentary on jailed activist Umar Khalid, taking aim at those he accused of selectively lionising certain figures. 'They never see a hero or a Nelson Mandela in Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nor in Ustad Bismillah Khan. They only see one in Umar Khalid,' he said, adding that critics who mourned Khalid's incarceration simultaneously labelled Sadhvi Pragya a terrorist despite a court acquittal.
Remarks on Rahul Gandhi, Swara Bhasker, and the Ram Mandir Verdict
Poonawalla made pointed remarks about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming he could become prime minister — 'but perhaps of Pakistan' — and predicting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be re-elected in 2029 with a larger margin. He also claimed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would return in 2027 with a bigger mandate than the BJP received in 2017. These are Poonawalla's personal political projections and not verified outcomes.
On actor Swara Bhasker's reported remarks about the Ram Janmabhoomi Supreme Court verdict — in which she reportedly reached out to Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan to express disagreement with the ruling — Poonawalla criticised her stance. 'Swara Bhasker, please stop now! Because this anti-Hindu stance, anti-national rhetoric and constant belittling of Hindus must end. The verdict on the Ram Mandir came through the Supreme Court — and these people claim to champion "saving the Constitution." Do Rahul Gandhi and Swara Bhasker believe that the wisdom of the Supreme Court was flawed?' he said.
Poonawalla's remarks come as he positions himself for a return to the private sector, leaving open what form that transition will take.
Point of View
Where departures are almost always dressed in ideological clothing. What it reveals, however, is the structural gap in India's political ecosystem: full-time party work outside of elected office offers no compensation, effectively rationing who can afford to participate. The broader political commentary he offered — on Rahul Gandhi, Umar Khalid, and Swara Bhasker — reads as a parting credential-building exercise, reinforcing his BJP-aligned positioning even as he exits the party payroll. His remarks on the 2029 election remain political projections with no evidentiary basis.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Shehzad Poonawalla resign from the BJP?
Poonawalla says he had planned to leave politics and return to the private sector after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, primarily for financial reasons, having calculated that unpaid full-time political work was only sustainable until end-2024. He delayed the decision because the BJP's 240-seat result made an immediate exit feel inappropriate.
When did Shehzad Poonawalla join the BJP?
Poonawalla joined the BJP in 2021 and served as the party's national spokesperson. Before entering politics, he worked in the media.
What made Poonawalla stay in the BJP longer than planned?
The BJP winning only 240 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections — short of an outright majority — made him reconsider leaving immediately. He also cited upcoming state elections as a reason to stay, and said he finally decided to exit after the Bengal elections.
What did Poonawalla say about Rahul Gandhi?
Poonawalla claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi could become Prime Minister 'perhaps of Pakistan' rather than India, and predicted Narendra Modi would be re-elected in 2029 with a bigger margin. These are his personal political projections and not verified forecasts.
What did Poonawalla say about the Umar Khalid documentary and Swara Bhasker?
Poonawalla criticised those he accused of portraying Umar Khalid as a hero while ignoring figures like A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Bismillah Khan. On actor Swara Bhasker, he condemned her reported remarks questioning the Supreme Court's Ram Janmabhoomi verdict, calling the stance 'anti-Hindu' and arguing the court's ruling should be respected.
