LUCKNOW, Oct. 15 -- Ending days of speculation over a widely anticipated move, former IAS officer Divya Mittal on Thursday announced her political debut, launching her party Janneeti Bharat and declaring her intention to contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections from Mirzapur.

Known for its carpet and brassware industries, and revered shrines such as Vindhyachal, Ashtbhuja and Kali Khoh, Mirzapur is now gearing up for a new electoral contest, with former IAS officer Divya Mittal entering the fray to challenge established players, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress.

Mittal, who served as Mirzapur district magistrate from September 2022 to September 2023, told H...