As the dates of Kerala Assembly Elections 2026 approach, the hustle and bustle among Malayali expatriates living in UAE has intensified. Many people are planning to go to India to vote on April 9. But this time the journey is becoming very heavy on the pocket because the ticket prices are touching the sky. Some migrants are willing to spend up to 9,000 dirhams to fulfill their responsibility. However, due to the ongoing tension in the Gulf and rising fares, the number of travelers is expected to decline.
👉: Iran gave big concession to Iraq, it became easy to transport oil through Hormuz, SOMO asked for new schedule from customers.
What are the important terms and conditions for NRI voters?
To vote for NRIs, it is mandatory to be physically present at the polling station on the day of voting. The facility of online voting, proxy voting or voting from abroad is not currently available under Indian law. To vote, the voter is required to register himself through Form 6A and this should be done at the same address as recorded in his passport.
It will be mandatory to show the original Indian passport at the time of voting. No separate Voter ID Card (EPIC) is issued for migrants. There is a possibility of names of about 5 lakh NRIs who were born outside India being left out of the voter list. The Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala has informed the Election Commission regarding this technical problem.
Latest updates on air fare hike and travel
Air fares between Gulf countries and Kerala have increased to four times the normal. The ticket which was earlier available for Rs 8,000 to Rs 13,000, has now crossed Rs 60,000. Due to these increased prices and regional tensions, it is estimated that this time only around 5,000 migrants will be able to go to India to vote, whereas earlier this number was more than 50,000.
Details Information Election date 9 April 2026 Declaration of results 4 May 2026 Current ticket price more than Rs 60,000 (about 2,650 dirhams) Number of expatriates around 20 lakh (in Gulf countries) Special vote flight Very less possibility of operation this time
Political turmoil and government assurances
The main contest in Kerala is between LDF, UDF and NDA. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had visited UAE in November 2025 itself for the election campaign and met the expatriates. Political parties are trying to woo the migrants as the opinion of the migrants matters a lot in Kerala elections.
Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal has assured the expatriates that air services between India and UAE are running smoothly. He has advised not to pay attention to any kind of rumor and avoid panic. Organizations like KMCC are also active in helping the migrants, but rising fares have made it difficult for them to arrange special flights.