In 2004, Mahadik contested Lok Sabha election as a candidate of
Shiv Sena from
Kolhapur against NCP's
Sadashivrao Mandlik but lost. He parted ways with Shiv Sena and joined
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). But NCP did not consider him as the party's candidate for the
2009 Indian general election. He unsuccessfully contested the election as an Independent candidate. He entered Lok Sabha as member of NCP in 2014. On 10 January 2017, Mahadik, along with NCP MLA
Hasan Mushrif, former NCP MP
Nivedita Sambhajirao Mane, Kolhapur mayor Hasina Faras, and 400 others were arrested for blocking traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway as part of a protest against the effects of demonetization. He received Sansad Ratna Award for his outstanding performance in 2017 and 2018. After representing Kolhapur in Lok Sabha (2014–2019), he unsuccessfully contested from the same seat in 2019 elections. He lost 2019 LokSabha election against Shiv Sena leader
Sanjay Mandalik. In September 2019, he along with his
NCP colleagues joined
BJP. In 2022, he became a
Rajya Sabha Member from Maharashtra state. == Personal life ==