Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her entry into politics, saying Uttar Pradesh will be the starting point of her political journey and that she intends to work independently rather than join an existing political party.
Mittal, a 2013-batch officer who resigned from the administrative service on August 30, 2026, said she wants to work directly with people and establish an independent political platform with their support.
Why Divya Mittal Entered Politics
Mittal linked her decision to experiences during her administrative career, where she said she saw public problems remain unresolved even when government approvals and funds were available.
She cited the example of a village where residents wanted a school providing education beyond Class V. The proposal had been approved, but construction had still not started.
Mittal said the problem was not a lack of funds or rules, but a lack of intent. She also referred to irregularities in official reports and difficulties faced by people in accessing basic facilities.
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Focus on Farmers and Jobs
Mittal said issues concerning farmers and employment opportunities for young people would remain among the priorities of her political work.
She indicated that she wants to work on public concerns including education, health, employment and other basic needs.
No Political Party for Now
Mittal said she does not currently intend to join an existing political party. Instead, she plans to work with people and establish an independent political platform.
It remains unclear whether she will personally contest an election. She has not announced a constituency or detailed electoral strategy.
Congress Had Invited Mittal
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had invited Mittal to join the Congress after reports emerged about her plans to enter politics.
Rai said the party’s doors were open to her and described her as an educated and capable woman whose presence could strengthen the party.
Mittal, however, has chosen to pursue an independent political path rather than announce her entry into the Congress.
Bureaucrats Who Entered Politics
Mittal is not the first civil servant to move from administration into politics. Several former officers have left government service and gone on to build political careers.
Yashwant Sinha spent around 24 years in administrative service before resigning in 1984 and entering active politics. He later joined the BJP, served as finance minister and foreign minister, and was the opposition’s presidential candidate in 2022.
Former IAS officer Hardeep Singh Puri joined the BJP in 2014 after nearly four decades in the civil service and subsequently became a minister in the central government.
Former IAS officer Alphons Kannanthanam left the IAS in 2006, contested an Assembly election and later joined the BJP. He became a Union minister in 2017.
Arvind Kejriwal also moved from government service into politics after working as an Indian Revenue Service officer.
From Politics Back to IAS
Shah Faesal, who topped the civil services examination in 2010, followed a different path.
Faesal resigned from the IAS in January 2019 and later formed the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement. He subsequently left politics and returned to administrative service in 2022.
His case stands apart from those of former bureaucrats who permanently left government service to pursue political careers.
A New Political Chapter
Mittal’s entry into politics adds her to a long list of civil servants who have moved from administration to public life. Her decision to remain independent means attention will now turn to how she builds her political platform and whether her administrative experience can translate into public support.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
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