He participated in U-21 Cricket state-level tournament KSCA representing Tumkur Zone as a team member and as captain.

[citation needed] Lad contested the MLA election against a strong contender from the Congress Party.

[citation needed] Lad was part of the government formation under H. D. Kumaraswamy, ex-chief minister of the Karnataka state.

[citation needed] In the 2008 Karnataka Assembly elections, he won the Kalghatgi constituency in the Dharwad district.

[4] Santosh Lad was appointed state representative to oversee the rescue operation in the worst flooded area of Uttarakhand,[5][6] accompanied by a team headed by Hemanth Nimbalkar, Kari Gowda, and Naveen Raj Singh.