Kerala's New CM On Vehicle Modification: "If We've Promised To Legalise, It Will Be Done"
Kerala has got its new Chief Minister. The United Democratic Front (UDF) has come to power in the South Indian state and V.D. Satheesan has been sworn in as the new CM. If you remember, this is the same politician who had promised to legalise vehicle modifications in the state if chosen to power, by the citizens. During a recent interactive session with the media, he was asked about legalising vehicle modifications. The CM’s response to the same was rather interesting- ‘If we have promised to legalise, it will be done’.
In the video shared by ‘Neelakkuyil Entertainments’, we see the Chief Minister taking questions from the media. One of the reporters asks ‘CM Sir, what about legalising modifications?’ V.D Satheesan takes the question with a warm smile- a reaction that quickly went viral across the internet. It almost seemed as if he had been expecting this question and was amused that it finally came up. The internet loved the reaction.
Responding to the question, the Chief Minister said ‘ If we have promised it (legalising safe vehicle modifications), it will be done’. Giving enthusiasts further reassurance, he says ‘ We are here to fulfill promises. All of us (the ministers and MLAs) are here to serve the interests of the citizens, to turn their dreams into realities. Particularly, the dreams and wants of the younger folk. We did not make the statement (of legalising safe modifications) to merely drive votes and rise to power.’
These words have given the auto enthusiasts in Kerala, the reassurance they needed.
UDF’s manifesto this time, promised to legalize vehicle modifications that are safe. This quickly gathered a lot of attention because Kerala had a zero-tolerance policy to vehicle modifications under the previous government. Almost every alteration was treated as ‘illegal’ and penalised. Enthusiasts were definitely not happy with that framework.
During the campaign, V. D. Satheesan, one of the front’s strongest candidates, openly acknowledged that Kerala’s youth have a strong passion for personalising their vehicles. He added that vehicle modification, in itself, should not be treated as a crime. The politician also said that if his party rises to power, they would legalize ‘safe modifications’, giving people the freedom of expression with their vehicles.
He made this statement on video, and the same went viral in no time. The now-CM had then reiterated that unsafe modifications will continue to be banned and only those that are safe to the occupants, other people and vehicles around will be allowed.
This is a more balanced approach and one that needs to be welcomed. Instead of applying a blanket ban on modifications, it tries to prohibit only those that could harm people and vehicles around. This means that Kerala’s car culture can be nurtured without affecting the state’s road safety standards. Legalising modifications would also open up the aftermarket economy further. The South Indian state already has some of the most interesting builds and restorations in the country.
Legalising ‘safe modifications’ will not, however, be straightforward. First, defining a ‘safe mod’ itself needs to be done with care. Any ambiguity here can potentially cause misuse and exploitation. The government will have to take inputs from automotive engineers, industry insiders, and regulatory bodies to draft these guidelines properly.
The next challenge is the legalising process itself. The Central Motor Vehicle Rules have put the ban on vehicle modifications. Making a new state-only legislation is possible, but is quite complex too. V.D. Satheesan, being a lawyer by profession, would already know this complexity and if he is still confident about getting it done, he would know the exact process to follow as well.
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