Divya Mittal Emerges as New Political Talking Point as Congress and SP Weigh Her Entry

Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has quickly become a subject of political discussion in Uttar Pradesh after announcing her entry into politics following a 13-year career in the civil services. While Mittal has made it clear that she does not intend to join any political party at present, comments from Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders have added a new dimension to speculation over where her political journey could eventually lead.

Mittal announced her political entry on September 29 through a video message, saying that she wanted to work directly with people rather than begin her political career under the banner of an established party. She described Uttar Pradesh as her “karmabhoomi” and said the state would be the starting point of her political journey. Her announcement came weeks after she resigned from the IAS following nearly 13 years in government service.

Her decision immediately attracted political attention because of her administrative background and public profile in Uttar Pradesh. During her career, Mittal served as district magistrate in Mirzapur, Deoria and Sant Kabir Nagar, besides holding several other administrative positions. She became particularly known during her tenure in Mirzapur for work related to bringing piped drinking water to remote villages.

Mittal has said that her decision to enter politics was influenced by issues she encountered while working in the administration. In her political message, she spoke about incomplete schools, infrastructure problems, examination paper leaks, recruitment delays and the concerns facing young people. She said she wanted to give a voice to citizens whose grievances often fail to receive adequate attention within government offices.

Her comments have also put her in the middle of a broader political conversation in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Before Mittal formally announced her plans, speculation had already emerged about whether she could join the Congress. That speculation was linked to a claim by BJP spokesperson Prashant Umrao about an alleged meeting between Mittal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The claim generated discussion, but Mittal's subsequent announcement that she would not join any party offered a different account of her immediate political plans.

Congress leaders have nevertheless spoken positively about the possibility of people such as Mittal entering public life. Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had earlier said that the party welcomes good people, while also referring to officials who have been in contact with Rahul Gandhi. These remarks contributed to the wider discussion around Mittal, although there has been no announcement from Mittal that she is joining the Congress.

The Samajwadi Party has also entered the conversation. Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was asked about Mittal's political plans and responded by referring to the choice between a green and red scarf, a remark widely interpreted as an invitation toward the Samajwadi Party. However, Mittal herself has not announced that she is accepting such an offer. Her stated position remains that she wants to begin her political journey independently and work directly with citizens.

The timing is significant because relations between the Congress and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh are also being discussed in the context of preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections. Recent reporting has pointed to differences between the two parties over the prospective division of seats, with Congress publicly discussing a larger number of seats to contest and the SP taking its own position on the distribution.

Mittal's background makes her entry particularly notable. A 2013-batch IAS officer, she studied at IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore and worked in London's finance sector before entering the civil services. Her administrative career included assignments in several districts and senior positions within the Uttar Pradesh government.

Her decision to stay outside established party structures, at least for now, also leaves several questions unanswered. It is not yet clear whether she intends to contest the 2027 Assembly elections, establish a political organisation, support candidates or continue building an independent public platform. Reports have noted that she has invited citizens from different professions, including teachers, farmers, students, doctors, labourers and lawyers, to participate in her initiative.

For the moment, the central point is that Divya Mittal has entered Uttar Pradesh's political conversation without formally aligning herself with either the Congress or the Samajwadi Party. Her administrative experience, public profile and decision to launch her political journey independently have created interest among several political groups, while her own statements indicate that she wants citizens rather than an established party organisation to be at the centre of her next phase.

Whether that independent approach continues or eventually develops into an electoral or organisational arrangement with an established party will depend on decisions Mittal makes in the coming months. For now, both the Congress and Samajwadi Party have commented on her political entry, but there is no confirmed announcement that she has chosen either party.