Spare a prayer for Rishi? Britain's first PM of Indian heritage reveals he has turned to his Hindu faith to give him strength amid election campaign

Rishi Sunak has revealed he has turned to his Hindu faith to give him strength during the general election campaign.

The Prime Minister, 44, says he uses the 'concept of dharma' to guide him.

Dharma is an important term in Indian religions and in Hinduism means 'duty', 'virtue', 'morality', 'religion' and it refers to the power which upholds the universe and society.

Mr Sunak, who has suffered a turbulent campaign so far, told The Sunday Times: 'In Hinduism, there's a concept of duty called dharma, which is roughly translated as being about doing your duty and not having a focus on the outcomes of it. And you do it because it's the right thing to do, and you have to detach yourself from the outcome of it.'

The premier became Britain's first non-white and Hindu leader when he took office in 2022.

Rishi Sunak (pictured here in November 2023 during a visit to the Vedic Society Hindu Temple in Southampton) has revealed he has turned to his Hindu faith to give him strength during the general election campaign

He has a shrine at 10 Downing Street for family worship and has a Lord Ganesh - the elephant-headed Hindu god known as the 'remover of obstacles' - on his desk.

Mr Sunak told the newspaper he believes it is his 'dharma' to serve the nation as he added: 'But that is something I was raised with, and that is also something that gives me the strength to deal with the things that you're describing, because I get fulfilment from just doing what I believe is right.

'And as you say, work as hard as you can, do what you believe is right, and try, and what will be will be.'

The PM has previously spoken of how his Hindu faith gives him 'strength and resilience', revealing he prays with his daughters before putting them to bed.

Mr Sunak said in 2022: 'Faith is important to me for two reasons. For me, it certainly helps give life purpose and meaning.

'I pray with my kids before I put them to bed. Not that I do as much of that any more. The thing about Hinduism is that, yes, it's a religion, but it is also just a way of life. It's cultural. So it sometimes feels broader than that.'

The Prime Minister (pictured with his wife Akshata Murty ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India in September 2023) says he uses the 'concept of dharma' to guide him

It has so far been a torrid campaign since the PM stood in the rain three weeks ago in Downing Street to announce the July 4 general election.

He has been ridiculed for saying he went without Sky TV as a child when giving an example of hardship, as well as that his 'appalling diet' of Haribo and Twixes would make more people like him.

While he pleaded with voters to 'find it in their hearts' to forgive him for his D-Day blunder after he was accused of insulting war veterans for leaving the 80th anniversary commemorations for an interview with ITV.

This week, he suffered a further blow when Nigel Farage's Reform party overtook the Conservatives in an opinion poll for the first time.