Kerala's New Govt Has An Old Problem: Nobody Wants Car No.13

Key points

• 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...