Malappuram (Kerala), March 18 As the April 9 Kerala Assembly elections approach, anxiety is growing among Keralite voters based in the Gulf, who are unsure whether they will be able to return home to cast their votes this time.
This concern is mainly driven by the ongoing tensions in West Asia involving Iran and Israel–US allies, which have severely disrupted air travel.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed, and several countries have partially or fully closed their airspace, affecting major Gulf aviation hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
With limited flight services, frequent cancellations, and rising ticket prices, expatriate voters fear that the usual "vote flight" arrangements may not be feasible this time.
For years, organizations like the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), the overseas wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), have played a key role in helping expatriates participate in elections.
During the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, hundreds of Keralites working in Gulf countries were able to return home, many of them on specially arranged "vote flights."
From Saudi Arabia and other regions, nearly half a dozen such flights were organized, bringing in voters who often stayed back only for a day or two before flying back to work.
However, this time the situation looks more complicated.
IUML leader Sayyid Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal expressed concern over whether these special arrangements will be possible.
While efforts are still on, he pointed out that the evolving crisis in West Asia is creating uncertainty.
"There is hope that things will stabilize in the coming days, but for now, the situation remains unclear," Thangal told
