For the 2018 by-elections to Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seats, Samajwadi Party united with several smaller parties, including Nishad Party, to extend its social base beyond Yadavs and Muslims. Sanjay Nishad's son, Praveen Kumar Nishad was selected as the Samajwadi candidate in Gorakhpur, where the Nishad community is the second-largest demographic group.[7][8] In a major upset, Praveen Nishad wrested the seat from BJP, which had not lost the seat since 1989. The victory margin was 21,000 votes.[9]
In the recently concluded 2022 UP State Election, Nishad party fought in alliance with BJP and won six seats.[10][11]