MP IAS Transfer: Major administrative surgery at midnight in Madhya Pradesh, transfer of 11 IAS officers, Congress alleges

News India Live, Digital Desk: Saturday morning was accompanied by administrative bustle in the politics of Madhya Pradesh. The state government has made major changes in the responsibilities of 11 senior IAS officers by issuing an order late last night. This list includes important departments like public relations, excise, health and agriculture. While the government is calling it administrative tightening, the Congress has called it an attempt to protect the “tainted” officers of the Excise Department. Major transfers: Who got what? In this reshuffle, the power of some officers has increased, while the departments of some have been changed: Manish Singh: Manish Singh, a tough officer of 2009 batch, has once again returned as Public Relations Commissioner. He will also continue to hold the additional charge of Transport Secretary. Ashok Varnwal: Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Varnwal has been removed from the Forest Department and given the command of the Public Health and Medical Education Department. Sandeep Yadav: He has been removed from the Health Department and made the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department. Deepak Saxena: Deepak Saxena, who has been handling public relations for the last 4 months, has now been given the important responsibility of Excise Commissioner (Gwalior). Abhijeet Aggarwal: He has been removed from the Excise Department and has been made the Chief Secretary of the Forest Department. MD of Cooperative Marketing Association has been made. Full list of transfers Name of the officer Present/old designation New responsibility Ashok VarnwalACS, Forest DepartmentACS, Public Health and Medical EducationSandeep YadavPS, Health DepartmentPS, Forest DepartmentManish SinghSecretary, Transport Commissioner, Public Relations (additional charge will remain)Deepak SaxenaCommissioner, Public Relations Commissioner, Excise (Gwalior) Abhijeet AggarwalCommissioner, ExciseMD, State Cooperative Marketing FederationUmashankar BhargavaAdditional Secretary, Raj BhawanDirector, Farmers Welfare and Agricultural DevelopmentAjay GuptaDirector, Agriculture DepartmentMD, East Region Electricity Distribution Company (Jabalpur) Congress’s sharp attack: “What about accountability?”Congress has cornered the government on this reshuffle by posting on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). Main allegations of Congress: Protection of corruption: Congress alleges that despite fake challans worth Rs 75 crore in the Excise Department and Jabalpur poisonous liquor scandal, instead of punishing officers, only officers have been moved here and there. New Excise Policy: Opposition says that just before the implementation of the new excise policy, this change has been made to benefit a particular class. Focus on 2026 ‘Agriculture Year’Administrative There is talk in the corridors that this change is also important because the government has declared the year 2026 as ‘Agriculture Year’. The appointment of Umashankar Bhargava in the Agriculture Department is considered to be a part of this strategy.