Who Is Hiren Joshi And Why There's A Buzz
A recent bureaucratic stir in Delhi has cast the spotlight on Hiren Joshi, an unofficial but key architect of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s media strategy. Coupled with the reported exit or sidelining of Joshi, the resignation of Navneet Sehgal, chairman of Prasar Bharati, has set off a flurry of speculation inside political and media circles over a big reshuffle within the Prime Minister’s Office and its communication machinery. Despite the buzz, official silence prevails from the PMO and the BJP (who have always remained silent and denied access to all major developments to journalists), which only serves to heighten curiosity and conjecture.
Hiren Joshi is widely regarded as one of the most influential and discreet figures within the PMO, often described as Modi’s “super editor” or the “motherboard” of the Prime Minister’s media ecosystem. A former engineering professor from Bhilwara, Joshi was talent-scouted by Modi in 2008 after he fixed a technical glitch at a Gujarat government event. Since then, he has been instrumental in shaping Modi’s digital persona and in choreographing media campaigns across both the Internet and television. In 2019, Joshi rose to the rank of Joint Secretary/Officer on Special Duty Communications & IT in the PMO, now wielding influence above ministers, editors, and social media teams. His supervision of the narrative extended to news priorities, the opposition-targeting agenda, and the management of media discourse, unseen by the public, but taken as his signature by journalists.
His mysterious persona extends to his near invisibility; rarely is he seen in public or media photographs. The first authenticated picture of him is from the 2024 G20 summit, where he was with Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Yet, despite his anonymity, his influence is palpable in the way Indian news channels and digital platforms shape their coverage. Joshi’s reputation includes accusations from opposition figures such as Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, who has publicly accused Joshi of “destroying democracy” by throttling media freedom. Khera’s remarks have sparked demands for clarity over Joshi’s foreign transactions and alleged links with betting apps, which question the secretive dealings at the heart of the PMO.
The sudden resignations and reshuffles have caused ripples in the corridors of power and the press clubs alike. Reporters who have followed Joshi’s work say there has been a monthslong effort to oust him, which he resisted because of his deep insider knowledge of Modi’s operations—a factor that could topple the government if mishandled. The sudden resignation of Navneet Sehgal as the chairperson of Prasar Bharati, which governs India’s national broadcasting, further thickens the plot. Sehgal, a retired IAS officer and known for his political acumen, took over in March 2024. His resignation was swiftly accepted by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, triggering wild speculation about an orchestrated turn in Modi’s communication and media network, perhaps signaling new alignments or a power shift inside the PMO.
Joshi’s digital and media empire is credited with building the “NaMo online universe” from scratch and orchestrating campaigns targeting foreign adversaries and domestic critics alike. He has been described as Modi’s “eyes and ears,” a man who not only crafted the narratives but also closely monitored media compliance, using tools ranging from WhatsApp blasts to intricate social media strategies. Newsrooms have felt his influence so acutely that his supposed ousting has even caused panic among anchors, who may now have to independently source and develop stories without Joshi’s signalling. This behind-the-scenes power, the sudden ambiguity over it, and the accompanying allegations represent a rare instance where transparency demands have reached right to the doorstep of the PMO itself. In brief, the high profile of Hiren Joshi is rooted in a ten-plus-year career as the chief media strategist for Prime Minister Modi-a ghostly force managing, often manipulating, media narratives. The current buzz is created by his reported exit or reassignment amidst other senior resignations, which raises several questions about possible changes in the communication machinery of India’s ruling establishment. With no confirmation and flying accusations by opposition leaders, the fate of Hiren Joshi and continuous media control strategies have become a riveting story that Delhi journalists and media following up closely.
