While winning the lower house would put Mr Bersani in pole position to form a government, no coalition will be able to rule effectively without control of the Senate.

BBC: Q&A: Italian election

So people in this state know that if either of their main regional parties sweeps this election - last time it was a DMK-led alliance, this time could be different - then it will be in pole position to help form the next Indian government in Delhi.

BBC: Tamil Nadu: India's kingmaker state

Michael Schumacher starts from pole position in his Ferrari, an apparent return to form after a disappointing 2005.

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Bahrain Grand Prix as it happened