Before entering politics, Nagarathanamma was vice-president of The Bharat Scouts and Guides and senate member of the University of Mysore.
[3] She contested the 1967 elections as member of Indian National Congress and defeated K. B. Jayadevappa with a large margin of 21,423 by securing 30,778 as against his 9,355 votes.
[4] Nagarathanamma retained the constituency for the fourth time in 1972 elections defeating B. Basappa of Indian National Congress (Organisation).
[7] The 1983 elections again saw her come back to her seat as INC member by defeating H. N. Srikanta Setty of Janata Party and won 44,085 votes.
[8] In the following 1985 elections she defeated H. S. Mahadeva Prasad of Janata Party with a large margin of 19,140 securing 40,857 votes for herself.