- By Nidhi Giri
- Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kerala Polls 2026: Expatriate voters may face difficulties participating in the upcoming Keralam Assembly election, as ongoing tensions in the Middle East are expected to disrupt travel from Gulf countries, impacting overall voter turnout. Voting for 140 seats in Keralam will take place on April 9. The results of the Keralam election will be announced on May 4, along with the results of all other states.
Gulf migration from Keralam is high from the northern districts and as a result the impact is expected to be more pronounced at the constituency level.
As seen in previous elections, large numbers of Keralites employed in Gulf countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait travel back to Keralam to vote. Many expatriate associations should be credited for this as they arrange charter flights among other modes of travel to ensure maximum participation.
The situation is different this year amid the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran which has shaken the Middle East region. The tensions have led to flight cancellations, increased ticket prices, and widespread uncertainty, disrupting the travel plans. As a result, expatriate groups believe that voter turnout from the Gulf could fall to nearly half of what was seen in earlier elections.
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“We usually organise multiple chartered flights during elections, but this time it is not feasible,” said a functionary of a Gulf-based Malayali organisation as quoted by Mathrubhumi.
Where Will The Impact Be Felt?
The expatriate votes mostly impact the Malabar region, particularly in districts like Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kasaragod. Apart from this, some areas of Palakkad and Thrissur may also be impacted since many households here depend on family members employed in Gulf countries.
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Political parties such as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), an important partner in the Congress-led United Democratic Front, have always drawn considerable support from returning expatriate voters. Any decline in their participation could have an impact on tightly fought constituencies.
Keralam has around 2.2 million expatriates in the Middle East, however, only a small proportion return to vote, and their electoral impact is confined to select constituencies.