Sarva Dharma Samabhava has been used more as a political than a spiritual principle. If one looks at its application closely, it is usually an attempt to gain favor from different potentially hostile religious communities. Politically it has been used to court the favor of various religious groups and to uphold vote banks based upon religious belief. Sarva Dharma Samabhava has been used by politicians to tell each of his constituents what they want to hear. It is an attempt to be all things to everybody. It tries to avoid the difficult questions and real problems with some imaginary harmony.

Naturally this may serve the politician's urge to get elected but it does not address the real problems, which are often based on real differences between religious beliefs, particularly relative to their social manifestations. Of course, once elected the politician may do as he likes, but while seeking votes he has to appear to be on everyone's side. It is this vulgar, self-seeking sort of all religions are good that has come to dominate modern India. Under the guise of social tolerance it is used to fuel personal and family ambitions.