While PM Modi has called for austerity measures, ministers are showcasing their bids to cut down on cars. But why should they move in a cavalcade?
By MANISH ANAND
New Delhi, May 13, 2026 — Light, camera, and action — from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Home Minister Amit Shah, from Chief Ministers to Central ministers, the spotlight is on austerity measures. Modi moved in a two-car cavalcade on Wednesday. Shah also cut down his cavalcade by half. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also moved with reduced fleet of cars.
On the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed the people for austerity measures to preserve fuel, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary trended on the internet for his 64-car cavalcade, consisting of high-end SUVs. A public representative in Madhya Pradesh showed strength with dozens of cars.
Media persons recall that when P. Chidambaram served as Finance Minister and later as Home Minister, he travelled in just a single Maruti Esteem car. Jairam Ramesh, who was Union Minister for Rural Development, even walked down to his Lodhi Road residence from the office in Krishi Bhavan. Else, one vehicle did the job for him.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit moved around in a single car. Her ministers also moved in single cars.
Salman Khurshid, when he was a Union Minister, also moved in a single car. In fact, it was normal for a Union Minister to move around for official works in a single car.
But Ministers in New Delhi in recent years seem to have made a habit of moving in a cavalcade, consisting of security drills, etc.
Indeed, Mansukh Mandaviya and Arjun Ram Meghwal hit the limelight by coming to parliament in their respective bicycles. But they also move around in cars for official functions.
While Delhi has a robust network of Metro, no Union Ministers or Delhi Ministers has been seen regularly using the services of the Metro. The Prime Minister occasionally has used the Metro services. But his ministers have hardly followed up.
Ironically, politicians now have taken a strong cavalcade as a status symbol. A robust security drill seems to add to their status. Z+ security is taken as an achievement in one’s political career.
No government has yet brought out a white paper on expenses on such extravagant use of vehicles and security drills by India’s politicians. It’s also ironical that India’s people’s representatives showcase excessive security covers.
Evidently, the issue seems to be a BJP specific, with the leading lights of the party not setting examples for others. In Bihar, term for such extravagance is “Bhoukaal.” That lifts the status of the neta in the eyes of the people!
(This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author’s own.)
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