BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has sparked exit buzz after he dropped the party name from his social media bio on X, fuelling speculation that he may be quitting the saffron party. In his latest bio, there is no mention of BJP. “Religion Islam, Culture~Hindu, Ideology~Bhartiya: ✍️Author: GST Ki Yatra,” specifies the bio with an added line, “Lifelong follower of PM @narendramodi.”
However, there has been no official confirmation from Poonawalla or the BJP regarding his resignation. Meanwhile, his current bio on Instagram still mentions “BJP Spokesperson” as did his earlier bio on X. The development has triggered widespread discussion across social media, but there is no verified information indicating that Poonawalla plans to join another political party or retire from public life.
Poonawalla also shared a screenshot of the revised bio on X, captioning it, “My updated bio.” This development follows recent comments suggesting a potential exit from the BJP, where he indicated that the moment has arrived for him to step away from active politics. On the same day, he shared videos in which he reiterated these sentiments during various interviews.
Sources quoted by CNN-News18 said he had submitted his resignation to the party’s top leadership for personal reasons, but the BJP has not publicly acknowledged receiving or accepting it. Likewise, Poonawalla has not posted any statement confirming his departure or explaining his decision.
Poonawalla had joined BJP in December 2017 after calling the Congress’s organisational polls a “sham.” He left the Congress party following controversies over the election process for the party president’s post. After joining the BJP, he was made the party’s national spokesperson and became one of its most prominent television faces.
In 2021, he was also made the in-charge of the BJP’s social media wing for the national capital. Poonawalla has been a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, frequently defending the party on television debates and social media while launching sharp attacks on the Congress and its leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.
Shehzad is the younger brother of political commentator Tehseen Poonawalla. The two were once known to share a close bond, but their relationship soured over political differences, with the brothers frequently taking opposing positions and engaging in public spats in recent years.
The speculation over his exit grew after Poonawalla updated his bio on X, removing all references to the BJP and his role as national spokesperson. His revised bio now describes him as a “lifelong follower” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside a line reading “Religion Islam, Culture~Hindu, Ideology~Bhartiya.”
The development has raised questions about the reasons behind his reported resignation and his future political course. With no official statement from either side, the situation remains unclear. Political circles are awaiting an official confirmation from either Poonawalla or the BJP leadership regarding his continued association with the party.
Poonawalla’s departure, if confirmed, would be significant given his high-profile role as a national spokesperson and his frequent appearances on television debates defending the party’s positions. His sharp rhetoric against opposition parties, particularly the Congress, had made him one of the most recognisable faces of the BJP’s media outreach.
The timing of the bio change has also sparked speculation about whether there are broader developments within the party that may have influenced his decision. However, without official confirmation, these remain matters of conjecture.
