New Delhi: BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has stepped down from all party posts and ended his primary membership, saying the decision was driven by personal and financial pressures.

In his first interview after resigning, Poonawalla said he had been struggling to manage basic expenses and no longer felt he could continue in the role in the same way. He pointed out that political parties do not provide salaries to spokespersons or workers, and said he had to think about practical responsibilities such as paying rent.

Poonawalla said his departure should not be seen as a sudden move. According to him, the decision had been on his mind since 2024, and he had already conveyed his concerns to people in the party several weeks earlier.

He also said the BJP had tried to reach out after he expressed his desire to quit, but maintained that his conscience did not allow him to continue under the present circumstances. At the same time, he stressed that his ideological commitment to the party and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision remained unchanged.

Explaining his position, Poonawalla said he did not come from a political family or a legacy background and had to build his own path. He suggested that many people assume politicians have inherited support systems, while first generation political workers often face a very different reality.

He also dismissed speculation on social media that his resignation was linked to a so called “sting operation” or other conspiracy theories. Poonawalla said he had no knowledge of such claims and rejected them as baseless.

In his resignation letter, he referred to recent events involving “certain individuals” but did not name anyone directly. In the interview, he said conflicts and disagreements are common in political and media organisations, and that public life often involves people trying to pull others down.

Poonawalla joined the BJP in 2021 after leaving the Congress and became a familiar face for the party on television debates. His exit has drawn attention because of his visibility as a spokesperson and because he has now linked his resignation to personal financial strain rather than a political disagreement.