Curse of Manmohan Bungalow: Why Kerala’s Ministers believe this house will ruin their careers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The allocation of official residences to the newly inducted cabinet ministers has once again trained the spotlight on the historic Manmohan Bungalow, reviving a long-standing political superstition in Kerala that its occupants are doomed to cut their tenures short.

While the "jinx" reportedly prompted several ministers to bypass the property this term, newly appointed Minister O.J. Janeesh accepted the allotment after drawing the short straw, dismissing the supernatural anxieties surrounding the residence.

History of Political Misfortune

Constructed during the reign of Sree Moolam Thirunal of Travancore, the heritage bungalow has accumulated a storied list of political casualties over the decades:

• The Early Exits: P.S. Nataraja Pillai, the Finance Minister of the Travancore cabinet and the building's first resident, vacated the premises early in pursuit of a simpler lifestyle. Later, Travancore-Cochin Chief Minister A.J. John lost a crucial vote of confidence while residing here, leading to the collapse of his government.
• The Karunakaran Exit: Legendary leader K. Karunakaran moved into the bungalow during his first stint as Chief Minister, only to step down within a month due to the controversial Rajan case.
• Resignations and Controversies: Veteran leader R. Balakrishna Pillai was forced to resign over his controversial "Punjab-model speech" during his stay, despite reportedly conducting elaborate Vastu rituals to counter astrological adversities. Later occupants, including T.U. Kuruvilla (implicated in the Rajakumari land scam) and Mons Joseph (who stepped aside for a party colleague), also saw their ministerial runs abruptly halted. Even late CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan faced political heat and subsequent relocation over alleged extravagance in renovating the property.

Breaking the Mold

Despite its notorious reputation, the bungalow's history is not entirely bleak. Several prominent leaders have successfully completed their tenures while living within its walls. K. Karunakaran safely completed his term as Home Minister in the Achutha Menon cabinet from this address. In recent history, Congress stalwart Aryadan Mohammed, CPI(M) leader Dr. T.M. Thomas Isaac, and Antony Raju—who completed his designated two-and-a-half-year term in the past Left administration—have all broken the supposed jinx.

The residence was most recently assigned to Saji Cherian during his re-induction into the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, proving that while the superstition endures, pragmatic politics continues to occupy the Manmohan Bungalow.