Madhya Pradesh’s Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah appears to have distanced himself entirely from his official responsibilities, yet continues to hold on to his ministerial post. Despite being inactive for several weeks, Shah has neither tendered his resignation nor resumed work — creating an unusual administrative deadlock in the Tribal Affairs Department.
Department officials are struggling to manage the backlog of files and stalled decisions. Many key proposals — including welfare schemes and routine transfers — are pending, as the minister has stopped clearing files altogether. During a recent video conference held by the department, a senior commissioner confirmed that multiple files sent to Shah’s residence had not been processed. This public admission by the commissioner has drawn attention to the growing dysfunction within the department.
Shah’s discontent has been an open secret within political circles. He is believed to be unhappy with his current position and has been waiting for a more prominent role or reassignment. However, instead of formally resigning or requesting a portfolio change, he has chosen to disengage from work entirely.
Despite this unprecedented situation, the BJP high command and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav have refrained from taking any concrete action. Neither has Shah been asked to step down, nor has his portfolio been reassigned.
This inaction has raised eyebrows within bureaucratic and political circles, especially as Shah’s absence continues to impact the department’s functioning and the delivery of tribal welfare programs.
Several key initiatives, including beneficiary selection and resource allocation under tribal schemes, have come to a standstill. The minister’s passive stance and the leadership’s silence are now beginning to reflect poorly on the Government’s overall administrative discipline.
“Files are piling up, nothing is moving forward. Principals, officers, and beneficiaries are waiting endlessly,” a senior official said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, insiders claim that Shah has been signaling his intent to exit for quite some time, but the lack of formal communication has left the state leadership in a quandary. Observers note that if the situation persists, the government will have no choice but to intervene — either by relieving Shah or reallocating the department to ensure governance continuity.
For now, however, the Tribal Affairs Department remains in limbo—caught between a minister who refuses to work and a government that refuses to act.