Days after resigning from the IAS, former Uttar Pradesh-cadre officer Divya Mittal on Tuesday announced her entry into politics, saying she would begin her political journey in Uttar Pradesh without joining a political party.
In a video message, Mittal, who belongs to Haryana’s Rewari, said she would remain in Uttar Pradesh, “not be afraid” and continue to question the system. She appealed to people to support her, saying she wanted to become “the voice” of those whose concerns often go unheard.
The announcement gives a political direction to Mittal’s decision to resign from the civil service after 13 years. Her resignation, announced on August 30, was accepted in September.
Mittal, who served as district magistrate in Mirzapur and Deoria, is now seeking to use her experience in administration and dealing with public grievances to build a political platform with citizens rather than align with an established party.
Her pitch is centred on issues with a direct bearing on everyday life: schools, roads, farmers, unemployment and examination paper leaks. She has also questioned the role of money, caste and muscle power in electoral politics, saying she wants to seek public support instead.
That makes her move significant beyond the familiar phenomenon of bureaucrats entering politics. She has also shared a WhatsApp contact number, asking people to connect with her.
Mittal has previously faced criticism from several BJP leaders over her style of working and allegations that she had exceeded her administrative brief. She has rejected allegations that she was secretly meeting political leaders.
Her next challenge will be to translate the public profile she built during her administrative career into a political organisation capable of sustaining an independent platform.
