Why Doesn’t PM Modi Hold Press Conferences? New Zealand Journalist Revives Debate, MEA Offers Fresh Explanation
The long-running debate over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from formal press conferences resurfaced during his official visit to New Zealand, after a local journalist questioned Indian officials about why the Prime Minister has not held a traditional media interaction despite being in office for more than a decade. The exchange quickly drew international attention, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) acknowledging the familiar nature of the question.
Responding at a media briefing in Auckland, MEA Secretary (East) Rudrendra Tandon smiled before remarking that the question had a sense of “déjà vu”—a reference to a similar episode during PM Modi’s visit to Norway earlier this year. Tandon clarified that, as a civil servant, it was not appropriate for him to comment on the Prime Minister’s political choices, but he sought to explain the communication style adopted by the Indian leader.
According to Tandon, Modi’s political approach is rooted in direct engagement with the electorate rather than communication through the media. He described the Prime Minister as a “quintessential Indian politician” who believes voters prefer personal outreach through public meetings, rallies, radio broadcasts, digital platforms and direct interaction instead of relying on journalists as intermediaries. Tandon argued that Modi’s repeated electoral victories, including a third consecutive term, suggest that this strategy has resonated with a significant section of the electorate.
The explanation marked a shift from the government’s earlier response to similar criticism abroad. During Modi’s Norway visit in May, when a Norwegian journalist publicly asked why he avoided taking questions from the press, the Prime Minister did not respond. Subsequently, another MEA official defended India’s democratic institutions and media environment rather than directly addressing the question about press conferences. The New Zealand response instead focused squarely on Modi’s preferred style of political communication.
The episode has also reignited political debate within India. Opposition leaders argued that communicating directly with citizens and holding press conferences are not mutually exclusive. Congress leader Pawan Khera contended that while direct voter outreach may be politically effective, regular questioning by independent journalists remains an important democratic convention that promotes transparency and accountability.
Prime Minister Modi has generally chosen to communicate through public speeches, the monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme, social media, interviews with selected media outlets, and public events instead of open-ended press conferences where journalists can ask unscripted questions. Supporters argue this enables direct communication with citizens without media filtering, while critics maintain that avoiding unrestricted press conferences limits opportunities for public scrutiny of the executive.
The Auckland exchange has therefore extended a recurring discussion beyond India’s borders, highlighting differing expectations about media engagement for elected leaders. While the MEA presented Modi’s communication model as a deliberate political choice shaped by India’s electoral culture, the renewed questioning in New Zealand indicates that the issue continues to attract attention during the Prime Minister’s overseas engagements.
