Former Dharmapuri DMK MP S. Senthil Kumar, who had earlier triggered controversy for opposing Hindu rituals at government functions, is now under scrutiny after visiting a temple and offering prayers following his announcement as the party’s candidate for the Palacode Assembly constituency.
During his tenure as MP in 2022, Senthil Kumar had publicly objected to a Bhoomi Pooja organised by government officials for a lake restoration project at Alapuram. At the event, he questioned the inclusion of Hindu rituals in a government function and demanded the presence of representatives from other religions, including Christian priests and Muslim imams. He had also asked officials why such practices were being followed and reportedly instructed them not to invite him to similar events in the future.
In the same incident, he confronted Public Works Department officials and insisted that government functions should not feature religious rituals. The episode escalated when he intervened during the ceremony and halted the proceedings, leading to widespread criticism. The video of the incident later circulated widely on social media.
Following the backlash, Senthil Kumar remained largely absent from major party activities over the past two years.
However, with the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approaching, he has re-emerged as the DMK candidate for Palacode and has begun active campaigning, as reported in Dinamalar. As part of this, he recently participated in a Mandala Pooja at the Selakarappan–Selakarammal temple in Keragodahalli, where he was seen offering prayers and applying a sacred mark on his forehead.
சின்ராச கையில பிடிக்க முடியாது தேர்தல் வந்துட்டா..! pic.twitter.com/IuDDgCwZDW
— ஆறுமுகம் (@murugan86489868) April 2, 2026
This is a stark contrast between his earlier opposition to Hindu rituals and his current public display of religious participation. Even within sections of the DMK, there have reportedly been murmurs questioning the shift, with some reportedly describing the move as politically motivated in the context of electoral calculations.
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