Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh Tuesday publicly criticised IAS and IPS officers who don’t belong to the state, and accused them of prioritising private agendas over the state’s welfare.

Singh, whereas urging Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to take agency motion, backed Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri’s month-old warning about bureaucratic conspiracies in opposition to the Congress authorities in Himachal Pradesh.

The assertion comes practically a month after Agnihotri’s remarks at a state occasion in Mandi on 6 December 2025 to mark three years of the Congress authorities in Himachal. The Deputy CM had cautioned bureaucrats in opposition to “assembly individuals in opposition to the federal government”, including that these performing in opposition to it “might be handled at the hours of darkness of night time”.

Vikramaditya, who oversees the Public Works Division, City Growth, and Housing, alleged that these officers lack real dedication to Himachal and warned that failing to handle them promptly might hurt the state’s pursuits.

Chatting with reporters, Singh Tuesday averted naming particular officers however expressed frustration over “unfair and arbitrary” fund allocations.

“Funds from the Centre are for the individuals of Himachal. No officer has the proper to distribute them arbitrarily, but this has occurred,” he stated, including: “As elected representatives, we received’t let anybody undermine the state’s pursuits.”

He accused some out-of-state IAS and IPS officers of misusing central funds for roads and different initiatives, eroding Himachal’s ethos. “I respect the Centre-state framework and welcome officers from any cadre, however the state’s pursuits come first. Defending these is our responsibility,” Singh stated.

He famous that comparable issues had been raised by Agnihotri, and even the state’s Chief of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, together with others. “Himachal’s sources should profit its individuals, not serve private positive factors,” Singh emphasised.

Presently, 1997-batch IAS officer Devesh Kumar, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, serves as principal secretary for PWD, City Growth, and Finance — the departments headed by Singh.

When contacted, the minister stated Wednesday, “I’m free to lift my issues. Being a public consultant and flagbearer of the legacy of former CM Virbhadra Singh, I can’t tolerate some officers mis-utilising their powers to hurt Himachal’s curiosity.”

---

Additionally Learn: Have dustbins inside Himachal’s autos helped the waste disaster? It’s a 12 months of Rs 10,000 effective

---

Dissenting views

Not everybody throughout the Congress authorities agreed with Singh’s broad-brush criticism.

“Many officers from outdoors are doing glorious work. As a substitute of common statements, particular names needs to be given. Such sweeping statements are usually not a good observe,” Income and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi advised ThePrint.

Senior Congress chief Raashid Alvi additionally weighed into the controversy.

“Civil servants serve throughout India. Such feedback fragment the nation, very like Raj Thackeray’s assaults on individuals from UP and Bihar in Maharashtra. India belongs to everybody. Administrative divisions are effective, however mutual assaults are inappropriate,” Alvi advised journalists in New Delhi.

Though Singh named nobody, his feedback are considered as an indication of the federal government’s weakening management over the paperwork—a cost continuously made by the Opposition BJP in Himachal Pradesh.

A senior Congress chief within the state, talking on situation of anonymity, advised ThePrint: “There’s nothing new right here. We’ve been saying this from the beginning. Officers aren’t heeding Congress leaders, and even ministers are annoyed.”

Former minister Ram Lal Thakur, an in depth affiliate of late CM Virbhadra Singh, not too long ago advised the press that Well being Minister Dhaniram Shandil confided in him concerning the well being secretary ignoring his directives.

A senior IAS officer, requesting anonymity, stated: “It was unclear who Singh was referring to, however the authorities has protected a number of officers, which demoralises others. Stability is essential. If the deputy CM and ministers are feeling the warmth, the scenario is grave.”

The officer added that senior Congress figures had lengthy complained about bureaucrats, however their issues went unheeded.

Political analyst M.P.S. Rana noticed that many Congress leaders examine the present regime unfavourably to Virbhadra Singh’s period. “He dealt with officers in another way, drawing on his huge expertise,” he stated.

Rajya Sabha polls forward

The accusations come forward of a Rajya Sabha election in April 2026, when BJP MP Indu Goswami’s time period ends.

One other senior Congress chief, on the situation of anonymity, stated: “Some need Pratibha Singh nominated to Rajya Sabha to appease the Virbhadra faction. Rajni Patil’s identify can be circulating. However it’s sophisticated, particularly after Abhishek Manu Singhvi’s defeat final time, when cross-voting practically toppled our authorities. The ‘outsiders; narrative emerged then too. Who is aware of what’s brewing now?”

A 3rd senior chief and former minister remarked: “The paperwork is certainly unchecked. It was the CM’s job to rein them in. For the deputy CM to say this publicly, in entrance of central leaders and officers, exhibits it was pressing. But, nothing appears to have modified since.”

Within the earlier Rajya Sabha election in February 2024, BJP’s Harsh Mahajan unexpectedly defeated Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi. A 34-34 tie, as a result of cross-voting by six Congress MLAs, was determined by a draw of heaps in BJP’s favour. This triggered a disaster that led to disqualification of MLAs adopted by by-elections because the Congress scrambled to safe its authorities.

Himachal Pradesh elects three members to the Rajya Sabha.

(Edited by Prerna Madan)

---

Additionally Learn: Sting of UP not forgotten, Congress has one other litmus check for a rising Priyanka Gandhi

---