Patro actively participated in the Odia Movement and was a member of the Indian National Congress and later, the Justice Party.

In 1920, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Council and served as the Minister of Public Works and Education from 1921 to 1926.

[8][9][10] During the First Round Table Conference held in London on 12 November 1930, the Raja of Paralakhemundi supported by the Utkal Provincial Congress Committee and the Indian National Congress, appealed to the Chairman of the Committee for a separate province on behalf of the Odia people.

Patro, then a member of the Madras Legislative Council, supported his proposal and expressed his solidarity with the movement.

On 11 July 1921, when A. Subbarayalu Reddiar, the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency who held the portfolios of education and public works resigned citing health reasons, Patro was appointed in his stead, as the Minister of Education and Public Works.

The bill asserted that the governing body would henceforth be headed by a Chancellor who would be assisted by a pro-Chancellor who was usually the Minister of Education.

In 1923, the government passed a second order decreeing that endowments to universities would be cut if they did not permit the admission of scheduled castes.

[17] Patro patronised and promoted Telugu during his tenure as the Minister of Public Works and Education.

[22] Patro supported the resolution and introduced the following amendment to it: That every person, who is willing to subscribe to the creed and aims and objects of the South Indian Liberal Federation and is willing to abide by the rules framed by the Executive Committee, is eligible to become a member of the Federation[22]The motion was however defeated by the orthodox sections of the Justice Party.

[23] In 1928, Patro led the Madras Legislative Council committee that welcomed the Simon Commission and submitted a memorandum seeking dominion status for India and more autonomy for the provinces.

[24] He opposed the Quit India Movement and offered his full support to the British war-effort during the Second World War.

Patro built a Brahmo mandir in the Andhra region[26] and organised theological discourses in the temple premises.