Divinity plays big role in TN's 'game of thrones'

Over the last few days alone, both Dinakaran and OPS have been visiting a number of temples and, at times, have even sought blessings of godmen.

According to latest reports, Dinakaran was off to Sivaganga district to visit Piranmalai temple while OPS made a bee line to the famous Guruvayoor temple to offer his prayers.

A few days before that, Dinakaran made a halt at Tiruvannamalai while on his way to Thanjavur to visit a local godman called ‘Mookupodi Samiyar and sought his blessings. A day after his first public meeting in Melur since he was ousted by the EPS faction, Dinakaran offered prayers at the famous Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai.

Meanwhile, OPS and his supporters rushed to Shirdi in Maharashtra to visit the Sai Baba shrine before flying to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sources claimed that more such visits are lined up for both the camps in the coming days.

The only other top contender in the race for taking over the 1.5 crore cadre party, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has, however, been busy managing day to day affairs of the state government.

Visiting temples and offering special pujas to deities by AIADMK leaders are nothing new as their mentor and the late CM Jayalalithaa was also particular about visiting temples and offering special pujas ahead of important events. Even the AIADMK founder the late MG Ramachandran was known to be a pious man who frequently visited the Sri Mookambika Temple in Kollur, Karnataka.