{
  "id": 1625004,
  "title": "Why Shehzad Poonawalla quit BJP: ‘Planning since 2024. It was either my job or…'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/why-shehzad-poonawalla-quit-bjp-planning-since-2024-it-was-either-my",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T03:29:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/why-shehzad-poonawalla-quit-bjp-i-have-been-planning-this-since-nitin-nabin-politics-national-spokesperson-101787019821296.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shehzad Poonawalla, a 38-year-old BJP spokesperson, submitted his resignation from the party on Monday, citing financial and personal circumstances that forced him to return to the private sector. He had previously offered to resign on July 30, but the party asked him to reconsider. Poonawalla explained that his decision had been in the works for nearly two years, as he wanted to resume a salaried job after dedicating 24/7, 365 days to politics. Despite his departure, Poonawalla expressed his continued support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and the BJP's ideology, stating that he would only leave the \"Vyavastha\" (organisation) but not the \"Vyakti\" (people) or \"Vichar\" (ideology).",
  "summary": "Shehzad Poonawalla says the post of party spokesperson does not carry a salary because it is a voluntary position.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}