Madhavan initially was a primary school teacher but when the Maha Sangh sugar cane farmers' union was formed in Labasa, he was one of its earliest members.

[1] He also remained an active member of the Fiji Teachers Union and was its president in the 1950s and early 1960s, retiring from the position in 1967.

When Patel lost his seat in the 1950 elections Madhavan was selected as the Indian representative in the Executive Council.

He remained in the Legislative Council until losing his seat in the 1959 elections, when he changed constituencies.

[citation needed] He contested the 1963 elections under the banner of Citizens Federation, together with Patel and Sidiq Koya.