New Delhi. After resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has once again launched a scathing attack on the Congress party. Levelling serious allegations against the alleged Congress ‘ecosystem,’ Poonawalla claimed that certain journalists were paid to make statements against him. He also alleged that after he left the BJP, individuals associated with the Congress attempted to contact and initiate a dialogue with him. However, he has not publicly presented any documents or evidence to substantiate these claims.
In a video shared on social media, Poonawalla also referred to messages allegedly received from the Congress after he left the BJP. He stated that some people within the Congress believed that, upon leaving the BJP, he would speak out against the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi; it was with this expectation that attempts were made to engage him in conversation. According to Poonawalla, he received messages expressing sympathy regarding his departure from the BJP and stating that he had been treated unfairly.
In the video, he claimed he was also told that the BJP always treats Muslims in this manner. Poonawalla said he responded to such remarks by clarifying his political stance. He told the senders that he was a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and did not favor any party other than the BJP.
Poonawalla further declared that he would not allow Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to become Prime Minister. This statement underscores his political ideology and continued support for Prime Minister Modi, even after resigning from the BJP. In his video, he raised several questions regarding the Congress party’s alleged overtures, asserting that the party should not have expected his political stance to shift simply because he had parted ways with the BJP.
Political discourse intensifies following resignation from BJP
Shehzad Poonawalla had publicly announced his decision to resign from all party posts and his primary membership of the BJP in August. He had sent his resignation again to BJP leader Nitin Nabin, requesting its acceptance. He had previously submitted his resignation on July 30, but the party did not accept it immediately, asking him instead to reconsider his decision. After lengthy deliberation, Poonawalla stated that he would stand by his decision.
In his resignation, Poonawalla cited financial and personal circumstances as the primary reasons for his decision. He stated that while he was stepping down from his role within the party organization and as a national spokesperson, his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s ideology would continue. He also hinted at plans to move into the private sector.
Following his resignation, there was considerable speculation regarding his political future. Questions arose—particularly given his past ties to the Congress—about whether he might return to the party. In a recent video, Poonawalla sought to dispel these rumors, clarifying that leaving the BJP did not mean returning to the Congress.
Past ties to Congress; later joined BJP
Shehzad Poonawalla began his political journey with the Congress. In 2017, he publicly questioned the party’s organizational elections and Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. Subsequently, he joined the BJP and became one of the party’s prominent television spokespersons. Over the years, he was frequently seen vigorously defending the BJP’s stance in television debates and political programs.
As a BJP national spokesperson, Poonawalla consistently targeted the opposition, particularly the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. This is why his resignation from the BJP sparked significant discussion about his next political move. However, at the time of resigning, he clarified that he was stepping away from organizational responsibilities, not from Prime Minister Modi or the BJP’s ideology.
Potential controversy over allegations of paying journalists
In his latest allegations, Poonawalla has accused the Congress’s alleged ‘ecosystem’ of trying to create a hostile atmosphere against him. He claims that certain journalists were paid to make statements against him. While this allegation is politically serious, there is currently no independent corroboration. The situation will become clearer only after the Congress responds to these claims. Following Poonawalla’s allegations, the debate over ‘ecosystem’ politics between the Congress and the BJP is likely to intensify once again in social media and political circles. Despite leaving the BJP, Poonawalla—who has expressed support for Modi and refused to return to the Congress—has sought to convey through his video that his decision to leave the party does not signal a shift in political ideology.
For now, Poonawalla has stepped away from organizational roles within the BJP. While he has spoken of moving to the private sector, he remains active regarding political issues. The fresh allegations leveled against the Congress have once again brought the post-resignation phase of his political journey into the spotlight. All eyes will now be on how the Congress responds to these allegations and the direction Poonawalla takes regarding his political role in the coming days.