English – Part 2Electoral Strategy, Historical Parallels, and the Limits of Polarisation PoliticsHistorical Precedents: When Rhetoric BackfiresIndian electoral history offers multiple examples where strong identity-based rhetoric produced outcomes opposite to those intended. Political actors often assume that sharp language will fracture minority voting blocs or consolidate majority sentiment. In reality, such strategies frequently trigger defensive consolidation among targeted
English – Part 2 Electoral Strategy, Historical Parallels, and the Limits of Polarisation Politics Historical Precedents: When Rhetoric Backfires Indian electoral history offers multiple examples where strong identity-based rhetoric produced outcomes opposite to those intended. Political actors often assume that sharp language will fracture minority voting blocs or consolidate majority sentiment. In reality, such strategies frequently trigger defensive consolidation among targeted communities. Minority voters, when sensing collective vulnerability, tend to: Temporarily suspend internal political disagreements Prioritise perceived safety over performance metrics Vote tactically rather than ideologically This pattern has been observed across states and decades, suggesting that political memory and social psychology play as much a role as policy outcomes. Identity vs Governance: The Voter’s Dilemma Many Muslim voters today are not single-issue voters. They evaluate: Employment...