He was a member of the Indian National Congress and served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for two terms during the 1960s.

He, along with Chandra Bhanu Gupta (Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh) were instrumental in getting the power sharing formula between Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai post the 1967 election.

It gave the Deputy Prime Minister post to Desai, but the agreement broke down in 1969 and the Congress subsequently split.

Congress members questioned authenticity of the letter as well as Mishra's motives and timing of revelation.

[citation needed] He was also active in the struggle for Indian independence and went to jail for the cause, for the first time aged 19 in 1920.