Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Poonawalla Accuses Congress Ecosystem of Targeting Him After BJP Exit
Shehzad Poonawalla recently left the Bharatiya Janata Party.
He said the Congress expected him to criticize Narendra Modi after leaving.
Instead, he continued criticizing Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
Poonawalla alleged that people connected with Congress were paying some journalists and online accounts to attack him.
He said this effort was failing because those same platforms were still publishing many stories about him.
The article does not report a response from Congress to these allegations.
Poonawalla said he would not support Rahul Gandhi becoming prime minister.
He also said he left politics because he needed income for personal expenses.
He had earlier left Congress in 2017 after objecting to how its leadership election was conducted.
Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Congress-linked actors were encouraging right-wing journalists and social media accounts to attack him.
He said the Congress ecosystem expected him to criticize Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party after his resignation.
Poonawalla instead continued attacking Rahul Gandhi and said he would never support Gandhi becoming prime minister.
He resigned from all Bharatiya Janata Party posts and primary membership, citing financial and personal pressures.
Poonawalla previously left the Indian National Congress in 2017 after alleging that its presidential selection process was unfair.
- Who
- Shehzad Poonawalla, the former Bharatiya Janata Party leader, made the allegations involving the Indian National Congress and Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- Poonawalla alleged that Congress-linked actors were encouraging journalists and social media accounts to target him after his BJP resignation.
- When
- He made the claims in posts and a video on August 20, 2026; the report was published August 21, 2026.
- Where
- The statements were made on X and Instagram.
- Why
- Poonawalla said Congress expected him to turn against Narendra Modi and the BJP, while he continued criticizing Rahul Gandhi; he separately cited financial and personal circumstances for leaving the BJP.
- Recent political move
- Poonawalla resigned from all BJP posts, primary membership, and party responsibilities earlier in the week.
- Reason for resignation
- He cited pressing financial and personal circumstances and said he planned to return to the private sector.
- Main allegation
- He claimed that people associated with the Congress ecosystem were encouraging or paying some right-wing journalists and social media handles to attack him.
- Response to the alleged campaign
- Poonawalla said he continued criticizing Rahul Gandhi rather than Narendra Modi and the BJP.
- Position on Rahul Gandhi
- Poonawalla said he would never support Rahul Gandhi becoming prime minister.
- Earlier Congress association
- He joined Congress in 2008, became secretary of the Maharashtra Congress unit in 2016, and left the party in 2017.
- Earlier dispute
- Poonawalla said he left Congress after alleging that the process for choosing its president was unfair and favored Rahul Gandhi.