Sir — This refers to the report, “Cannot seek votes in name of religion, caste: SC” (January 3). By ruling that an appeal to a voter’s religion and caste constituted an electoral malpractice, the Supreme Court has drawn the lakshman rekha for political parties. But the judgement will have limited impact on the conduct of elections.
Identity politics, with the purported aim of seeking to represent scheduled and backward castes and minorities have gained significant electoral clout. Parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal are just some of the skilled practitioners of identity politics.