Lucknow: Declaring she will launch her own political party instead of joining an existing outfit, former IAS officer Divya Mittal has announced her entry into politics. To be called ‘Jan Neeti Bharat’, the party will contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Mittal announced in an eight-and-a-half minute video message uploaded on social media.
Mittal has indicated that she may contest the assembly elections from the Mirzapur Sadar constituency, currently represented by the BJP. Her entry into the electoral fray from this seat could greatly ramp up interest in the contest.
In her video statement, Mittal said the primary objective of her party would be to bring people directly into the decision-making process and ensure that government policies reflect their actual needs. Explaining the party’s vision, she said ordinary citizens would be at the centre of policymaking, with solutions to problems faced by farmers and small traders developed on the basis of their experiences.
She added that development projects and administrative decisions would be guided by people’s needs rather than their caste, religion or identity. Women’s safety and greater public participation in local development would also be among the party’s priorities, she said.
मेरा राजनीतिक सफर का अगला कदम। मेरे साथ जुड़ें 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/c9ihA3dxOB
— Divya Mittal (@divyamittal_IAS) October 15, 2026
Mittal said information on government schemes, budgets and development projects would be made directly available to citizens on their mobile phones. People would also be able to assess the condition of schools, hospitals and roads through a colour-coded rating system of green, yellow and red, helping them participate in monitoring and improving public services.
Emphasising a grassroots campaign, she said the party would rely on door-to-door outreach rather than big advertisements or money power. She appealed to people to join the initiative and spread its message: ‘Not Raj Neeti but Jan Neeti (not politics but public policy).’
In the video, Mittal recalled that when she had first spoken about entering politics, she shared a phone number to hear from people. The overwhelming response, she said, led WhatsApp to block the number because she had not anticipated receiving so many messages. “I had set out carrying a lamp of hope, but when your messages started coming in, I felt as if I was standing before the sun with a lamp in my hand,” she said.
Explaining why she decided to form a new party, Mittal said the problem was not a shortage of political parties but a lack of public representation. “There is no shortage of political parties. The problem is that people are not being heard. Some are heard, but not everyone,” she said.
Flow chart
Drawing an analogy with the Ganga, she said every drop of water was equal and collectively helped determine the river’s course. She said she wanted to build a party in which every individual would have an equal voice. “Politics rules over you, in Jan Neeti, you will be in charge,” Mittal said, adding that the party would contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections to ensure the government worked according to people’s needs not just on one day in five years, but at every step.
Sources said Mittal will initially focus on expanding her new party’s outreach in Mirzapur, Sant Kabir Nagar and Deoria, where she previously served as district magistrate. She plans to gradually expand the party’s presence across Uttar Pradesh.
Recently, Union Minister and Mirzapur Member of Parliament (MP) Anupriya Patel took an indirect dig at Mittal without naming her, saying, “Several officers have formed their own political parties in the past. The people of Mirzapur will give her the answer themselves.”
Mittal, a 2013-batch IAS officer, had announced her resignation from the administrative service on 30 August 2026 after around 13 years in government service. At the time, she cited personal and family reasons for her decision. Her resignation took effect from 15 September.
Mittal, who studied at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru, had also worked abroad before joining the civil services. During her career in Uttar Pradesh, she served as district magistrate of Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur and Deoria, among other assignments.
Mittal gained traction for her initiative to provide piped water to Lahuriyadah village in Mirzapur. Later, she was transferred from there; sources close to her said that the “tension had intensified”. They claimed that local MP Anupriya Patel was not invited to the pooja ceremony held for the project, another possible reason for the transfer.
Mittal was given an emotional farewell by Mirzapur residents, who showered her with flower petals. Mittal herself had become emotional during the farewell, as is seen in a video clip that went viral.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)