Bedeković was the leader of the Croatian Unionist Party and fought against his country's independence. As ban he called parliamentary elections in 1871. The People's Party emerged victorious, causing Bedeković to prorogue the Parliament of Croatia three times to prevent it from taking power. Dissatisfaction with the obstruction of parliament led to the Rakovica Revolt. Early elections were subsequently called for 1872. The failure of Bedeković to convene the previous parliament resulted in his removal from the post of ban and replacement with the first non-noble ban, Ivan Mažuranić.