Days after resigning from the administrative service, former Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer Divya Mittal on Tuesday announced her entry into politics. She said her political journey would begin in Uttar Pradesh, but she has ruled out joining any political party.
There was strong speculation around her political move since her resignation. Confirming it on Tuesday, Mittal said she would work with the people rather than align herself with any political party.
Her decision carries extra significance as it comes just months before the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, and Mittal has made it clear that Uttar Pradesh was her “karmabhoomi” and the state would be the starting point of her political journey.
Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer, resigned from the service after nearly 13 years. Her resignation was accepted in September. She served as District Magistrate in districts including Mirzapur and Deoria and was known for her work on providing piped water to remote villages in Mirzapur.
Calling herself the ‘voice of the people’, Mittal said her political journey would focus on accountability, justice and addressing issues faced by ordinary citizens.
कुछ दिन पहले IAS से त्यागपत्र दिया था और आपके मन में कई सवाल छोड़ दिए थे। अपनी बात इस वीडियो में कह दी है। अगर आपको लगे कि ये आपकी भी बात है, तो 9198956957 पर whatsapp मैसेज करिए। pic.twitter.com/mtS6gzBzRw
— Divya Mittal (@divyamittal_IAS) September 29, 2026
In a video message, she said: “Just a few days ago, I resigned from the IAS, and left many questions in your mind. I did not answer for a few days because the work was huge and I was gathering courage, but today I have come to answer those questions. What next? With whom and from where?”
“The first question is what next? Politics,” she declared. “People told me that you have achieved everything; what else do you want to become? I want to become a voice, the voice of those people whose voice does not reach any office and, even if it reaches, is not heard. I want an account of the 80 years of my country’s independence,” she said.
Read | “Unforgettable Journey”: Senior IAS Officer Divya Mittal Steps Down After 13 Years
Pitching her politics on the accountability plank, Mittal recalled her experience while inspecting the water supply system in Lahuria Dah. She said a woman from the village had approached her seeking a school beyond Class 5. She said she initially expected the woman to seek assistance related to a pension or a house.
Mittal said she examined the rules, approved the school, and despite three years having passed, construction had not begun.
“There was just no will. If there had been will, even the mountain would have given way, but if there had been no will, a single file became a mountain,” she said, adding that she wanted accountability for such delays.
Mittal also highlighted the lack of roads and bridges in villages, poor road conditions and the difficulties faced by children and families during the monsoon.
She also spoke about the future of young people, including concerns over examination paper leaks, prolonged recruitment processes and the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. As a mother of two daughters, she said she was concerned about the future children would face.
“Today, there is everything in our politics, there is power, there is noise, but there is no thinking. I want an account of that lack of thinking,” she said.
“We will have to change the politics. I will do politics, but not with anyone or any party. But with you all,” Mittal said, adding that she would fight from Uttar Pradesh.
Mittal appealed to people from different walks of life, including teachers, farmers, students, doctors, labourers and lawyers, to join her effort. “Meaningful political change can come only through collective public participation,” she said.
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