Kerala's New Govt Has An Old Problem: Nobody Wants Car No.13
Kerala's New Govt Has An Old Problem: Nobody Wants Car No.13 Written By, Last Updated: May 20, 2026, 12:08 IST The issue has once again
Kerala's New Govt Has An Old Problem: Nobody Wants Car No.13 Written By, Last Updated: May 20, 2026, 12:08 IST The issue has once again sparked debate on social media, with users questioning why elected representatives shy away from the number despite Kerala’s strong rationalist traditions Rapid Read Reddit users joked that “even atheists fear 13”, while others pointed out that the superstition cuts across party lines and governments. (AI-Generated Image) Even as Kerala’s newly sworn-in UDF government settles into office, an old superstition has returned to haunt the state secretariat—no minister wants official car number 13. Days after chief minister VD Satheesan and his 20-member cabinet took oath, the allocation of official government vehicles triggered fresh buzz in political circles after ministers reportedly avoided the “unlucky" number 13, continuing a long-running tradition in Kerala politics. The Times of India reported that vehicle numbers from 1 to 12 were quickly allotted among ministers, but official car number 13 found no takers in the new government.
Interestingly, Congress leader CK Hareendran reportedly opted for room number 13 at the MLA hostel to signal that he does not believe in such superstitions, even as the vehicle number remained unclaimed. According to the Kerala PR department, the first set of official vehicle allocations in the new state government are No. 1: VD Satheesan No. 2: Ramesh Chennithala No. 3: PK Kunhalikutty No. 4: Sunny Joseph No. 5: K Muraleedharan No. 6: Mons Joseph No. 7: Shibu Baby John No. 8: Anoop Jacob No. 9: CP John No. 10: AP Anilkumar The hesitation over number 13 is not new in Kerala politics. Government circulars show that previous governments too have often skipped the number or struggled to assign it to ministers. During earlier administrations, some leaders openly admitted avoiding the number because it was considered inauspicious, while others attempted to challenge the superstition publicly. The issue has once again sparked debate on social media, with users questioning why elected representatives continue to shy away from the number despite Kerala’s strong rationalist and progressive political traditions.
Reddit users joked that “even atheists fear 13", while others pointed out that the superstition cuts across party lines and governments. In 2016, BJP leaders had mocked the then LDF government after no minister initially accepted car number 13. The row later subsided when then finance minister Thomas Isaac volunteered to take the number. Earlier, during the VS Achuthanandan government, former minister MA Baby had also reportedly insisted on using car number 13 to challenge the superstition. But ministers are not alone in the superstition. The Kerala High Court too once skipped courtroom number 13 in its building numbering system, triggering legal and political controversy in the state. The issue had eventually reached the Supreme Court after a petitioner challenged the omission, arguing that a constitutional institution could not promote superstition. The Kerala High Court had initially dismissed the plea and even imposed a fine on the petitioner. However, the Supreme Court later pulled up the high court, observing that “The High Court is an institution.
It should not be allowed to encourage this sort of superstitions." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Thiruvananthapuram, India, India First Published: May 20, 2026, 12:08 IST News india Kerala's New Govt Has An Old Problem: Nobody Wants Car No.13 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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