Chennai: In a clear indication that everyone needs god at some point, atheist politicians have been praying feverishly ahead of polls.
Making his electoral debut with offerings from Madurai's Narasingaperumal Temple, is M K Azhagiri, the eldest son of Tamil Nadu's atheist Chief Minister. He makes no attempt to hide his religious beliefs. Emerging from his backstage role for the DMK for three decades, Azhagiri had recently got a party post, just before being fielded from his hometown - Madurai.
"For 30 years I've been one among you in Madurai, working for all of you," says the DMK candidate.
Not long ago, despite his remarks on Lord Ram, Karunanidhi chose to preside over the Golden Temple in Vellore. Another sign of ideology taking a backseat at election time?
"At one level it's a failure of the Dravidian atheism, its so called rationalist movement to take people away from the ritualistic aspects of religion. At another level, it shows that Karunanidhi doesn't impose his beliefs on his family members," says political commentator, S Murari.
Observers feel the DMK can do with a little divine help to take on the new Jayalalithaa led coalition in Tamil Nadu.