Mahat, aka Karma, is a politburo member of the Maoist Centre. The former Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party cadre joined the Maoist rebellion four years after its inception. He was named the head of Kalikot's 'People's Government' by the then rebels.

Mahat contested elections for the first time during the second CA polls, but was defeated by the Nepali Congress' Lalit Jang Shahi.