While still a student, he joined the Samajwadi Yuvajan Sabha and met Dr Ram Manohar Lohia and Raj Narain.

[3] He first became the member of Lok Sabha by defeating K D Malviya, the sitting Petroleum Minister in Indira Gandhi Cabinet from Phulpur constituency in Prayagraj district in 1969–70.

He also held portfolios of Petroleum, Water Resources Chemicals and Fertilisers, Energy, Shipping and Transport, and Communication and Railways.

[4] He died due to cardiac arrest on 22 January 2010 at Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital in Allahabad.

[6] [9] Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav credits Janeshwar Mishra with initiating him into politics.