He was imprisoned 58 times for a period totaling about 15 years in connection with students' and socialist movements.
He was elected to Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1952 and was Leader of Opposition"in the Assembly until 1962.The parties he was affiliated with included CSP,1934-48, Socialist Party, 1948-52, Praja Socialist Party,1952-1955.Socialist Party,1956-64.Samyukta Socialist Party,1964-72.Socialist Party, 1971-72, Socialist Party(Lohia) 1972-74, Bhartiya Lok Dal, 1974-77.Janata Party, 1977-79, Janata Party (S), 1979-80.