Former IAS officer Divya Mittal launches Janniti Bharat Party to contest 2027 UP elections

Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has launched a new political outfit, the Janniti Bharat Party, and announced plans to contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

In an eight-minute video message posted on social media platform X, the former administrator outlined her vision for public-centred governance, stating that the new party aims to give citizens a direct say in policymaking and hold public offices continuously accountable.

Mittal resigned from the Indian Administrative Service in August after a 13-year career in public service. The Uttar Pradesh government accepted her resignation in mid-September, following which she announced her decision to enter politics to work directly with citizens.

Administrative background and career history

Mittal, an alumna of IIT Delhi and IIM Bangalore, worked in London before entering public service. She cleared the UPSC civil services examination in 2013 with a 68th rank, having previously been selected for the Indian Police Service.

During her tenure as a civil servant in Uttar Pradesh, she served as district magistrate in Mirzapur, Deoria, and Sant Kabir Nagar, later serving as Special Secretary in the Revenue Department. During her administrative posting in Mirzapur, her administration delivered critical infrastructure by bringing piped drinking water to Lahuria Dah, a remote village that had depended on water tankers for decades.

Core promises and governance model

Outlining the platform for the Janniti Bharat Party, Mittal set out three core promises focused on structural reform, public participation, and digital governance.

1. People-centric policy: Establishing policymaking rooted in community needs, summarized by the motto Jan se niti, Niti se Bharat (Policy by the people, policies that build Bharat).2. Need-based decision-making: Prioritizing decisions based on objective requirements rather than identity or status, under the motto Zarurat se faisla, faisle mein barabari. She proposed participatory mapping for local development and a mobile app to let women report unsafe public areas so municipal authorities can install lighting and security cameras.3. Public accountability: Enabling digital transparency across local infrastructure projects, including hand pumps, drains, roads, schools, and hospitals, guided by the motto Janata ko hisaab; Hisaab se sudhaar.

Political landscape and 2027 UP assembly polls

Mittal stated that she chose to form an independent party rather than join existing political groups, describing Uttar Pradesh as her karmabhoomi. Ahead of her announcement, several political outfits had publicly acknowledged her entrance into public life, with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and state Congress chief Ajay Rai commenting on her transition.

Mittal has not yet announced which specific constituency she will contest from in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, but she invited citizens to join her initiative through dedicated contact channels as her party prepares its electoral campaign.