New Delhi: Shehzad Poonawalla, a long-time spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has resigned from the party, sources told CNN-News18.
He had submitted his resignation letter to the BJP’s top brass, citing personal reasons, the sources said, adding that an official statement will be released soon.
Poonawalla, known for his sharp debating skills, has been a vocal spokesperson of the BJP and a staunch follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He describes himself as a “lifelong follower” of PM Narendra Modi in his “updated” bio on X. However, it lacks mention of the BJP.
Poonawalla’s bio on Instagram continues to describe him as a National Spokesperson of the BJP though.
The lawyer and civil rights activist began his political career with the Congress, but shot to prominence in 2017 after publicly rebelling against its internal election process, labeling it “rigged” to favor Rahul Gandhi’s elevation to the presidential post.
The public fallout resulted in the Congress party and even members of Poonawalla’s own family – including his brother Tehseen Poonawalla – publicly distancing themselves from him.
He subsequently joined the BJP, where he was appointed as a national spokesperson to present the party’s stance on key socio-political matters.
People have reacted strongly to this information on social media, with some linking his decision to the latest protests against the NEET UG 2026 paper leak.