In Uttar Pradesh, discussions about leaving administrative service and joining politics before the 2027 assembly elections have intensified. PCS officer Anupama Saroj Singh, who was posted as Deputy Commissioner (GST) in the State Tax Department, has taken voluntary retirement (VRS). His application has been approved by the government. After this, there is speculation that he will enter active politics and contest elections on Samajwadi Party ticket. There is talk that she may contest from the reserved Sidhauli assembly seat of Sitapur district. However, he has not yet made any official announcement about contesting the elections or joining any political party.
According to the order issued by the government, Anupama Saroj has been granted voluntary retirement from 31 October 2026. He applied for VRS on 11 June 2026. After this, the State Tax Headquarters sent his application to the government on July 17. After completion of the prescribed process, his voluntary retirement was approved through an order issued on October 28.
Anupama Saroj informed about her decision by sharing a video on social media. He described it as a journey starting with a new beginning and a new resolution. According to him, moving from administrative service to public life is not just a change of role, but an attempt to fulfill one's responsibilities towards the society in a new way. He said that instead of waiting for change, now is the time to become a participant in it.
Anupama also told in her message that while in administrative service, she got the opportunity to understand the problems of the people and work for their solutions. However, there are many issues that require decisions at the policy level to bring about comprehensive change. He realized that there were limitations in working within the system in some cases. This experience inspired him to seek a new role in public life.
In a media conversation, Anupama told that the idea of leaving the government job was in her mind for about ten years. He said that several circumstances came together, after which he decided to quit the state administrative service. He has also expressed his desire to work on issues related to women, deprived communities and education. However, he has not yet made public his final decision regarding his future political strategy and joining any party.
Anupama Saroj's family has already been associated with politics and administrative service. His mother Sushila Saroj has been a senior leader of Samajwadi Party and was elected MP from Mohanlalganj Lok Sabha seat of Lucknow in the year 2004. She has also been a minister in the Mulayam Singh Yadav government. His father Ram Prakash Saroj was a former IPS officer. Due to the political background of the family, his decision to leave the job is being linked to the upcoming assembly elections.
Her husband Anurag Bhadauria is the national spokesperson of Samajwadi Party. He has been speaking in the media on various political issues on behalf of the party. For this reason, there is discussion about the possibility of Anupama joining Samajwadi Party. There is also speculation in political circles that he can be made a candidate from Sidhauli assembly seat of Sitapur. This seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste. However, no formal announcement has been made by SP regarding his candidature.
Anupama Saroj not only makes her mark as an administrative officer but also in the world of music. She is also known as Anupama Raag and has been active in the field of singing. His experience in music and art is also being cited in his decision to enter public life. He believes that music has given him a different perspective to understand the feelings, hopes and struggles of common people.
Assembly elections are to be held in Uttar Pradesh next year. Earlier, incidents of some officers leaving government service and joining public and political life have increased the discussion. Former IAS officer Divya Mittal has also announced to form her own political party and contest elections after leaving administrative service. In such a situation, Anupama Saroj taking VRS is also being considered an important development from political point of view.
At present, Anupama Saroj has the option of deciding her future role in public life. She has expressed her desire to work for the society, but has not made it clear whether she will join the Samajwadi Party or start her new innings in some other way. The discussion of contesting elections from Sidhauli is still limited to speculations. Everyone will be keeping an eye on his next step and political announcement in the coming days.