He began his political career as a student and youth leader. In 1977, Jichkar was elected President of the Nagpur University Student's Council. In 1980 at age 25, he was elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and from 1986 to 1992 he was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. He became a minister in the government with a number of different portfolios. After 12 years in the Maharashtra legislature, he was elected to the Indian Parliament in 1992 where he served as an MP until 1998. In 1999 he was defeated by 3000 votes in an electorate of 1.4 million voters.