A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he served as the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Narendra Modi ministry from July 2016 till the time of his death in May 2017.

[2] In a 2015 interview, he claimed human activity to be responsible for floods of the Narmada, the water of which is stored in the trees and mountains of its bank that seeps into it forming the actual catchment area.

[6] He was appointed the Minister of State (MoS) independent charge of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Modi Government's cabinet expansion on 5 July 2016.

[6] On 15 August 2016, in the strongest statement of India's move towards an Asbestos-free country, Dave categorically stated "Since the use of asbestos is affecting human health, its usage should gradually be minimised and ended.

"[13] In accordance with his wishes, the funeral was carried out in Bandrabhan, on the banks of the River Narmada, in Madhya Pradesh's Narmadapuram district at 10 a.m. (IST) on 19 May with full state honours.