He was the brother of another politician and former Minister Ram Lakhan Mahato.

He was an educationist in his early life, before joining active politics.

Mahto died in April 2020 at the age of 91, in his ancestral village, Rampur Jalal.

His first electoral victory came in 2000, when he contested the Assembly elections on the symbol of Rashtriya Janata Dal.

After this victory, he was made Minister for Official Language in Government of Bihar.