Former Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her entry into politics, nearly a month after resigning from the Indian Administrative Service. Mittal said she will begin her political journey in Uttar Pradesh but will not join any existing political party.
In a video message posted on social media on Tuesday, Mittal said she had taken time to decide what she wanted to do after leaving the civil services. Addressing questions about her next move, she said the answer was politics and that she wanted to work directly with people.
Mittal said Uttar Pradesh had been her “karmabhoomi” and that she intended to start her political journey from the state. She said she wanted to become a voice for people whose concerns do not reach government offices or remain unheard even after reaching them.
The former bureaucrat said she would not work under the banner of any political party. Instead, she plans to build a platform with citizens and focus on issues raised by ordinary people. She has also appealed to people to connect with her initiative through a phone and WhatsApp number.
Mittal served as a 2013-batch IAS officer and completed around 13 years in the civil services. Her resignation was announced on August 30 and was accepted by the Uttar Pradesh government in September, becoming effective on September 15.
During her administrative career, Mittal served as District Magistrate in Mirzapur and Deoria, among other assignments. She received attention for initiatives related to rural development and water supply, including efforts to provide piped water to remote villages in Mirzapur.
Explaining her decision to enter politics, Mittal referred to experiences from her time in administration. She spoke about problems involving rural infrastructure, schools, land-related issues, employment and examination paper leaks. She argued that government approvals, funds and rules do not always translate into solutions on the ground.
She also highlighted the need to address emerging challenges, including the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, according to reports on her announcement. Her stated focus is on creating a citizen-supported political platform around public concerns.
Mittal’s announcement comes as political parties in Uttar Pradesh prepare for the 2027 Assembly elections. However, she has not announced any political party affiliation or confirmed whether she will contest a particular constituency. Reports have noted speculation about a possible electoral role in Mirzapur, where she previously served as district magistrate, but no such decision has been formally announced by Mittal.
With her move from the civil services to politics, Mittal is now seeking to build a political platform outside the established party structure, beginning in Uttar Pradesh and focusing on issues she says are raised by citizens themselves.
