Before politics, Pranab Mukherjee worked as an upper-division clerk, became an assistant professor of political science and also worked as a journalist. His career began in 1969, when he caught the attention of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi when he was V K Krishna Menon's election agent. Mukherjee became a member of the Rajya Sabha in July 1969, following which he was re-elected to the House in 1975, 1981, 1993 and 1999.