The founders of AJSU were disillusioned with the previous political parties of Jharkhand and wanted more militant agitations.

AJSU organized general strikes and a campaign to boycott the Lok Sabha elections in 1989.

By 1990, however, AJSU had taken a more pragmatic line and had candidates for the Bihar state assembly election on the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha symbol.

Ahead of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly election, 2005, AJSU broke with the BJP-led NDA and formed an alliance with Lok Janshakti Party.

AJSU party president Sudesh Mahto lost from his constituency Silli after representing it for nearly 15 years.