Who Will Get ‘Kerala 2’ Car? Buzz Grows Ahead Of V D Satheesan’s Swearing-In

As V D Satheesan prepares to take oath as the next Chief Minister of Kerala on May 18, he is expected to be allotted the official vehicle carrying the iconic “State 1” registration plate — a symbol traditionally associated with the most powerful office in the state.

But while the “State 1” plate is automatically reserved for the Chief Minister, attention in Kerala’s political circles has now shifted to another closely watched question: who will inherit the prestigious “Number 2”?

In Kerala’s political culture, the “State 2” vehicle has long been viewed as an informal indicator of the second-most influential figure in the government hierarchy after the Chief Minister.

In the outgoing government led by Pinarayi Vijayan, the coveted number was assigned

to Revenue and Housing Minister K. Rajan. A senior leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Rajan’s possession of the “State 2” plate was widely seen as recognition of the CPI’s status as the second-largest constituent of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Despite the LDF’s defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections, Rajan was among the few ministers from the outgoing cabinet to retain his seat, winning again from Ollur constituency.

Now, with Satheesan set to occupy the “State 1” vehicle, speculation is mounting over who will receive the “State 2” car in the incoming United Democratic Front (UDF) government.

Within the UDF, the allotment is often viewed as reflecting political seniority and coalition importance. Traditionally, senior leaders from the Indian National Congress or the alliance’s key partner, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), are considered frontrunners for the symbolic position.

Senior IUML leader P. K. Kunhalikutty is being seen as a strong contender for a heavyweight cabinet portfolio after the IUML’s significant contribution to the UDF’s 102-seat tally in the Assembly elections. In previous UDF governments, senior IUML ministers have often been assigned some of the state’s most prestigious official vehicle numbers after the Chief Minister.

However, the UDF is yet to officially announce the names of ministers who will be inducted into Satheesan’s cabinet.

Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is another prominent name being discussed. Having previously served as Home Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Chennithala’s possible inclusion in the cabinet could make the allocation of official positions and protocol symbols a delicate balancing exercise.

The fascination surrounding Kerala’s official vehicle numbers remains a unique feature of the state’s political culture. While the Chief Minister’s white Innova Hycross bearing the “State 1” plate is a constant, the allocation of subsequent numbers often attracts intense scrutiny from political observers and party workers alike.

In 2021, the decision to allot the “State 2” vehicle to a CPI minister instead of a senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader was widely interpreted as a strategic move by Pinarayi Vijayan to maintain coalition balance within the LDF.

As the UDF prepares to assume office, the General Administration Department is expected to finalise official vehicle allotments shortly after cabinet portfolios are announced. Until then, the politically symbolic “State 2” plate remains unassigned — and closely watched in Kerala’s power corridors.