Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has entered politics, saying she wants to change the way politics functions and create a citizen-driven platform outside the framework of an established political party. The 2013-batch Uttar Pradesh-cadre officer, whose voluntary retirement became effective on September 15 after nearly 13 years in the civil services, announced her decision on September 29.
From IAS to Independent Politics
Mittal’s transition comes after a 13-year administrative career in Uttar Pradesh, during which she served in several districts and state-level positions, including as District Magistrate of Mirzapur and Deoria. Her tenure in Mirzapur brought public attention after efforts under her administration helped provide piped water to Lahuria Dah, a remote village that had depended on tanker supplies.
She resigned from the IAS in August, citing personal reasons, family priorities and new life goals. Her resignation was subsequently accepted and took effect on September 15.
A Politics Built Around Citizens
Mittal has made clear that she is not joining an existing political party. Instead, she proposes to develop an independent platform in consultation with citizens, beginning in Uttar Pradesh, which she described as her karmabhoomi.
Her stated objective is to bring public grievances that remain unresolved despite reaching government offices into the political arena. She argues that administrative authority alone cannot address every systemic problem and that political engagement is necessary to influence broader structures of governance.
Among the issues she has highlighted are:
· Unfinished schools and delayed public projects.
· Land and property cases remaining unresolved.
· Poor rural infrastructure and unsafe roads.
· Examination paper leaks and delays in recruitment.
· Employment challenges facing young people.
· The impact of artificial intelligence on future jobs.
Education, Jobs and AI at the Centre
Education and employment form important parts of Mittal’s proposed political agenda. She has argued that recurring examination irregularities and lengthy recruitment processes can undermine years of preparation by students and weaken confidence in public institutions.
Her focus also extends to the changing employment landscape. She has pointed to artificial intelligence as a technology capable of eliminating some existing jobs while creating demand for new skills. Her approach therefore includes curriculum changes, vocational training and greater attention to sectors capable of generating employment at scale.
Governance Beyond Administrative Boundaries
Mittal's experience as a bureaucrat appears central to the political model she is proposing. Her argument is that problems encountered by citizens often persist not because solutions are technically impossible, but because decisions can be delayed or implementation can remain incomplete.
She has therefore sought to shift the conversation from individual administrative interventions towards accountability, institutional reform and citizen participation. Her platform's eventual structure, she says, will be shaped through consultations with people rather than predetermined by a political organisation.
A New Political Experiment Begins
Mittal's entry adds another independent political initiative to Uttar Pradesh's evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. Whether her citizen-centric platform develops into a broader organisation, an electoral vehicle or another form of public engagement remains to be seen.
Her transition from bureaucracy to politics represents a shift from implementing government decisions to seeking a role in shaping them. The next phase will depend on how effectively she converts administrative experience, public recognition and stated concerns over governance into a structured political platform capable of sustained citizen participation.
(With agency inputs)
