In 1984, on Indira Gandhi’s request Narayanan entered into electoral politics. He won three successive general elections to the Lok Sabha in 1984, 1989 and 1991 from the Ottappalam constituency in Kerala.
He also held various ministerial roles in the cabinet of Rajiv Gandhi. He held the portfolios of Planning, External Affairs, and Science and Technology at different times, between 1985 and 1989.
As a Member of the Parliament, he resisted international pressure to tighten patent controls in India.
In 1992, former Prime Minister V.P. Singh proposed Narayanan’s name for the office of the Vice President. He was elected as the Vice President of India on 21st August 1992, under the presidency of Shankar Dayal Sharma. He was unanimously elected to the post. He served as the ninth Vice President of India from 1992 to 1997.
After completion of his tenure as Vice President, he was elected as the President of India and assumed the office on 25th July 1997. He served for five years and retired in 2002.
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