India’s Changing Political Narrative
India's Changing Political Narrative—In recent years, “secularism” has remained one of the most debated ideas in Indian politics. But what it means in practice—and how it is perceived by voters—has undergone a quiet yet significant shift. The electoral outcomes in West Bengal and Assam offer a telling snapshot of this transformation. Parties that once claimed to represent broad-based, inclusive politics now appear increasingly confined to specific demographic pockets. Whether this is a matter of strategy, perception, or political narrative depends on where one stands—but the shift itself is hard to ignore. A Changing Definition of Secular Politics Traditionally, secularism in India was framed as “equal respect for all religions.” Over time, however, political competition has reshaped how this idea is practiced and perceived. In both West Bengal and Assam, parties like the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian National Congress have positioned themselves as secular forc...
