The concern of Indian expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has increased regarding the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala. The expense of going to India to participate in elections is now going out of the budget of the common man. Due to shortage of flights and rising air fares, many migrants have decided not to go home this time, while some people are preparing to fulfill their responsibilities even after incurring huge expenses.
Complete schedule and rules of Kerala Assembly Elections 2026
The Election Commission of India has released the election schedule for 140 seats in Kerala. It is possible for NRI voters to cast their vote only when they are physically present at the polling station. Migrants have to register as migrant voters in advance through Form 6A.
Voting date: Voting will be held on April 9, 2026.
Result date: Election results will come on May 4, 2026.
Voting method: Personal presence at the polling booth is mandatory, online voting is not available.
Air tickets and financial burden on migrants
At present, the price of air tickets from Gulf countries to Kerala has reached 9,000 dirhams i.e. about Rs 2 lakh. Regional tension and low number of flights are being considered as the main reasons for this. The biggest impact is expected to be on districts in the Malabar region like Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur where migrant votes are decisive.
Details Important information Round trip ticket cost up to Dh9,000 Affected districts Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur Voter turnout estimate likely to drop from 60% to 10% Alternative route Some people are going to Kerala via Bengaluru
Increased tension between political parties and candidates
Major political parties of Kerala like LDF, UDF and NDA are worried about the low number of migrants. Especially in North Kerala, the votes of migrants decide the big difference between victory and defeat. Due to tickets being expensive, organizations like KMCC are also able to provide limited help. Many migrants who came home for the Eid holidays are planning to stay till the voting, but are finding it difficult to balance between jobs and rising expenses.
