In 1967, the two of them became active in the Naxalite movement that lead to the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist).
[2] Patnaik started his political career with the Communist Party of India and subsequently joined the CPI (M).
Along with Nagbhushan Patnaik, he joined the revolutionary communists in the Srikakulam Girijan Naxalbari movement.
He was active in various trade union movements and was also instrumental in the struggles of the people belonging to the lower economic strata of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.
[1] D. B. M. Patnaik died on 12 February 2009 at the age of 84, after developing complications from surgery.