Superstition shadow on UDF Cabinet: No minister opts for car no. 13

With a UDF government back in Kerala, the bogey of number 13 is back to haunt legislators.

None of the newly sworn-in ministers in the United Democratic Front (UDF) cabinet is ready to choose the official car number 13, often considered a bad omen, despite Kerala’s reputation for progressive politics. The Tourism Department, which allocates vehicles to ministers after maintenance, reportedly offered the car, but it found no takers.

After the oath-taking ceremony on Monday (May 18), ministers were reportedly asked to select their vehicle, but all avoided number 13. Instead, Shibu Baby John reportedly requested car number 51, OJ Janeesh opted for number 10, and Ramesh Chennithala chose number 9.

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This is not the first time the issue has arisen. In the Oommen Chandy-led government (2011–2016), no minister used car number 13. However, in the Pinarayi Vijayan government 1.0 (2016–2021), Finance Minister Thomas Isaac boldly used it, dismissing superstition.

The few who dared

In fact, Isaac had volunteered for the number after BJP leader K Surendran took a dig at the LDF ministers, calling out the “paradox” that the Communist leaders who swore by rationalism and refused to take oath in the name of God were reluctant to pick number 13 for their cars. CPI leader and agriculture minister VS Sunil Kumar had also volunteered for car number 13 then.

However, it remained with Isaac, who also chose to live in Manmohan Bungalow, which was considered jinxed, as many of its residents failed to return to the Assembly after their term. Interestingly, he did not contest the 2021 assembly elections following his party policy of not fielding leaders who had won the Assembly election twice consecutively. Isaac contested the Pathanamthitta seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and faced defeat.

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In 2006, MA Baby, Education Minister in the VS Achuthanandan government, also travelled in car number 13. The car was last used by former agriculture minister P Prasad in Pinarayi government 2.0 (2021–2026).

Interestingly, in Indian, especially Hindu traditions, the number 13 has never been seen as unlucky. The idea of 13 being inauspicious comes from Western superstition—known as triskaidekaphobia—rooted in Christian and Norse mythology. This belief reached India much later, carried through global media and Western cultural influence.