One of the major criticisms by Rahul Gandhi is that PM Modi is afraid to face the media directly because he has not addressed a single press conference in his five years of rule. Probably to prove it wrong, Modi held his first press conference towards the close of the last phase of elections. The opponents took this opportunity to describe it as the first and last press conference of Modi in his capacity as the prime minister.

Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav says that by holding the press conference towards the end of his five-year term, Modi has almost admitted his party’s unavoidable defeat. Modi’s action has surprised the political circles at the national level. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said mockingly that Modi’s press conference was not run professionally as he didn’t care to take questions from the media persons. It was another routine one of those Man Ki Baat episodes wherein Modi highlights his own personal achievements.