| 1973-77 |
Secretary, Samyukta Socialist Party (S.S.P.), Distt. Sitamarhi |
| 1977-90 |
Member, Bihar Legislative Assembly |
| 1977-79 |
Minister of State, Power, Government of Bihar |
| 1979-80 |
Member, Committee on Questions and Calling Attention |
| 1980-85 |
President, Lok Dal, Distt. Sitamarhi |
| 1985-89 |
Member, Central Parliamentary Board, Lok Dal |
| 1985-90 |
Member, Public Accounts Committee |
| 1987-90 |
Member, Pratyayukta Samiti |
| 1989-90 |
Chairman, Library Committee |
| 1990 |
Deputy Speaker, Bihar Legislative Assembly |
| 1991-94 |
Deputy Leader, Bihar Legislative Council |
| 1991-95 |
Member, Bihar Legislative Council |
| 1994-95 |
Chairman, Bihar Legislative Council |
| 1995-96 |
Minister, Energy, Relief, Rehabilitation and Department of Official Languages, Government of Bihar |
| 1996 |
Elected to 11th Lok Sabha |
| 1996-97 |
Union Minister of State, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Independent Charge) |
| 1997-98 |
Union Minister of State, Food and Consumer Affairs (Independent Charge) |
| 1998 |
Re-elected to 12th Lok Sabha (2nd term) |
| 1998-99 |
Chairman, Committee on Food, Civil Supplies and Public Distribution; and its Sub-Committees on Department of Food and Civil Supplies; Department of Sugar and Edible Oils; Department of Consumer Affairs; and Department of Coordination ;Member, General Purposes Committee |
|
;Member, Committee on Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD);Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Agriculture |
| 1999 |
Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (3rd term) |
| 1999-2000 |
Leader, Rashtriya Janata Dal Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha ;Member, Committee on Home Affairs |
| 1999-2004 |
Member, General Purposes Committee |
| 2004 |
Re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha( 4th term) |
| 23 May 2004 - 2009 |
Union Cabinet Minister, Rural Development;Vice President, Parliamentary Forum on Water Conservation & Management |
| 2009 |
Re-elected to 15th Lok Sabha (5th term) |
| Jun. 2009 |
Member, Panel of Chairmen, Lok Sabha |
| 6 Aug. 2009 |
Member, Committee on Estimates |
| 31 Aug. 2009 |
Member, Committee on Home Affairs |
| 19 Oct. 2009 |
General Purpose Committee |