In a late-night administrative overhaul, the Government of Madhya Pradesh transferred 11 IAS officers, triggering a political row with the opposition alleging that the move was intended to protect “corrupt” officials in the excise department.
According to an order issued by the General Administration Department around 1.55 am on Saturday, Additional Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal has been given charge of the health department, replacing Sandeep Yadav. Yadav has now been posted as principal secretary of the forest department and will also hold additional charge as principal secretary of the NRI department.
Senior IAS officer Manish Singh has once again been appointed commissioner of the public relations department, while continuing to hold additional charge as transport secretary. Public relations commissioner Deepak Saxena, who had held the post for four months, has been shifted as excise commissioner, replacing Abhijit Agrawal. Agrawal has been appointed managing director of the State Cooperative Marketing Federation.
Agrawal’s transfer comes just ahead of the implementation of the state’s new excise policy.
Among other changes, Ajay Gupta has been moved from the post of director of farmer welfare and agriculture development and appointed managing director of the East Region Power Distribution Company in Jabalpur. Umashankar Bhargava has returned from Raj Bhavan after eight months to take over as director of farmer welfare and agriculture development.
Bhind district panchayat CEO Sunil Dubey has been appointed deputy secretary to the governor, while higher education department deputy secretary Sanghmitra Gautam has been posted as CEO of the Alirajpur district panchayat, the order said.
Agar Malwa district panchayat CEO Nanda Bhalave Kushre has been appointed additional project director under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. Meanwhile, school education department deputy secretary Kamal Solanki has been posted as CEO of the Raisen district panchayat.
Reacting to the reshuffle, the Congress alleged that the transfers were meant to shield corrupt elements in the excise department. The party also referred to alleged irregularities in Indore and deaths linked to toxic liquor in Jabalpur.
“Transferred, but what about accountability?” the party said in a post on social media, claiming that corrupt elements were protected and no action had been taken despite serious allegations.
Also read: Vulture count of MP doubled in a decade
Follow us
