Changing tactics, the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh has launched a campaign against bureaucrats in the state after all other attempts failed to corner the Mohan Yadav government.

Questioning the neutrality of officials, the Congress is accusing them of following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologies in their functioning.

During the last few days, former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, PCC chief Jitu Patwari, and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Umang Singhar have issued statements accusing officials in the state of partisan behavior. The concerted Congress attack has been especially targeted at district collectors and the police administration in the state.

Singhar, addressing a gathering at Alirajpur on Friday, minced no words in his criticism of District Abhay Arvind Bedekar. He advised officials to openly take up the flags of the BJP and RSS, and suggested that they should attend shakhas of the Sangh."You are not needed as Collector here. You will have to work for the public," he warned.

Singhar's video, doing rounds on social media, has yet to elicit a response from the state government or any of the officers' associations. Singhar's attack on the official comes close on the heels of a similar outburst by former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijay Singh.Taking to X (Twitter), Singh accused the Rajgarh police administration of using a traditional regional convention as an opportunity to extract money. Singh, while condemning the tradition, said the Rajgarh Superintendent of Police should have done more than just take the accused to a temple and make them seek penance.

The accused was attempting to auction his daughter-in-law as part of the Natra-Jhagda. Singh has been a vociferous critic of the ritual, which takes place in the Rajgarh district of the state."This tradition is a means of earning for the Rajgarh police," alleged Singh. Following Singh's post, an FIR was registered by the police.

Besides, leading the farmers' agitation at Susner, PCC chief Jitu Patwari alleged that all officials are posted in the field and districts with corruption. He demanded the narco test of 20 select officials to uncover the reality of transfers and postings in Madhya Pradesh.

Responding to his allegations, the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) Officers’ Association stated that the allegations are baseless and that the officials are discharging their duties earnestly.

Last month, when a burglary was reported at the residence of Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh, his father Digvijay Singh attacked the whole police administration, saying the police are not active as the officers get their postings in police stations as part of an auction.

He posted his allegation on X (Twitter), but instead of getting replies from the ruling BJP or the state government, Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayan Chari Mishra replied to the post and maintained that the allegations were baseless and malicious.

This is the first time that the police officers and IAS Association have responded to allegations made by opposition leaders in the state.With the state government refraining from responding to the allegations and Congress leaders continuing to throw accusations at administrative officers, it will be interesting to see if the opposition party finally manages to score the brownie points it is seeking so desperately.