The Mahto and Singh gang were arranged on the caste lines and proclaimed themselves as the group serving the interest of Kurmi and Bhumihar community of the region respectively.

After the arrest of Ashok Mahto he became the de facto leader of the faction which was associated with the several killings in the region particularly of upper-caste people and supporters of Akhilesh Singh.

[6] Pradeep's political career was shaken, when in 2015, Aruna Devi defeated him in the Assembly Election as the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.

In 2020 Pradeep though himself being unable to contest the assembly elections due to his conviction in one of the case launched his wife as independent candidate from Warisaliganj but she lost to Aruna once again.

[7][8][9] Mahto was also suspected to be the person behind 2001 Nawada Jail break case, in which, he surrendered in the court in the following years, though until then, he managed to get the ticket from JD (U).