He held the position of the Minister of Tribal Affairs till the expiration of the term of the 14th Lok Sabha in 2009 while relinquished the charge of the Minister of Development of North Eastern Region to Mani Shankar Aiyar in October 2006.
From 2009, he served as Minister of Tribal Affairs until the conclusion of the 14th Lok Sabha term. He then relinquished his position as Minister of Development of North Eastern Region to Mani Shankar Aiyar in October 2006.