Shehzad Poonawalla quits BJP, cites financial and personal reasons

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has pressed his resignation from the party and its primary membership, after the BJP leadership initially declined to accept it. In a second letter to party president Nitin Nabin, shared on Monday, Poonawalla said he had arrived at a final decision after long and hard contemplation. He said events involving 'certain individuals' in recent days had reinforced his decision, but did not name them.

Poonawalla, who joined the BJP in late 2021 after leaving the Congress, said he was leaving due to pressing emergency financial and personal circumstances. He plans to move to the private sector. Despite stepping down, he said he continues to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and the BJP wherever possible. 'I am only leaving the Vyavastha, not the Vyakti or Vichar,' he said.

Poonawalla thanked Modi, Nabin, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and BL Santosh for their support. He had first submitted his resignation on July 30. The 38-year-old lawyer was one of the BJP's most recognisable Muslim faces on television debates. freepressjournal.in, indiatoday.in and timesnownews.com reported that Poonawalla has urged the party to formally relieve him of his responsibilities.