Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her entry into politics in Uttar Pradesh, nearly a month after resigning from the Indian Administrative Service. Mittal, a 2013-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre officer, said she will not join any political party and instead plans to work with citizens to build a platform focused on their issues and concerns. She announced the decision in a video message posted on X on Monday, ending speculation about her plans after leaving the bureaucracy.

Mittal announced her resignation from the IAS on August 30 after 13 years of administrative service. Her resignation was subsequently accepted, and she was relieved of her official duties in September. In her latest message, she said her political journey would begin in Uttar Pradesh, describing the state as more than just a place where she had worked. She said the people of Uttar Pradesh had accepted her like a member of their family and that this connection influenced her decision to begin her new phase there.

Explaining her decision, Mittal said she wanted politics to be a means of representing people whose concerns often fail to reach government offices. She said she wanted to become a voice for citizens whose grievances remain unheard and argued that fundamental problems continue to affect people despite decades of independence. Mittal also urged citizens not to wait for a single individual to bring change, saying people themselves should take part in addressing issues affecting their communities.

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She recalled several incidents from her administrative career to explain the issues she intends to raise. Referring to an experience while inspecting water-supply work in Mirzapur, she said a woman had asked for a higher-grade school in her village rather than seeking a pension, house or water connection. Mittal said the school had already received approval but construction had not begun for three years, which led her to question whether the problem was a lack of resources or shortcomings in implementation. She also referred to a land-lease matter in which discrepancies were found in an official report and questioned references to decisions being blocked by people "above."

Mittal also raised concerns about rural infrastructure, accountability and youth issues. She spoke about roads, bridges and potholes in villages, saying poor connectivity and road conditions can create serious difficulties, particularly during the rainy season. She argued that responsibility for such problems should be examined when authorities are aware of them but action is delayed. She also highlighted challenges faced by young people and referred to issues such as paper leaks in education while recalling how access to education had helped shape her own career.

Mittal said her new political journey would focus on working directly with people and building a platform around their concerns rather than seeking political office for its own sake. Her announcement marks a transition from a 13-year career in the civil services to an independent political initiative in Uttar Pradesh. She has not announced an affiliation with any existing political party, saying instead that she intends to work with citizens and take up issues that they believe require greater attention.

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