Kerala's Expatriates Return Home for 2026 Elections Amid High Travel Costs

Many expatriates residing in the UAE are spending up to 9,000 dirhams (approximately 230,000 rupees) on airfare to return to India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, 2026. Typically, thousands of expatriates from Kerala return home during elections to exercise their voting rights. However, according to reports, the soaring airfare may lead to a decrease in voter turnout from Gulf countries this time around. The elections will see the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by 81-year-old Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, striving for an unprecedented third consecutive term.

Roy George, a 40-year-old expatriate, recently returned to Kerala from the United Kingdom and is preparing to vote for the first time in nearly a decade. He came back to care for his ailing mother and now finds himself part of a broader conversation about migration and return. Hailing from Changanssery in Kottayam district, Roy expressed uncertainty about whether he would continue to exercise his voting rights in the future, reflecting the dilemma faced by many families from Kerala who have sought better opportunities abroad.

Migration has emerged as a significant topic in the election campaign, with all major political parties promising to create better education and job opportunities within Kerala to prevent people from feeling compelled to migrate. However, Roy pointed out that the issue extends beyond just job availability. He noted that while it is positive that political parties are discussing migration, many individuals do not migrate solely for employment. The substantial wage gap between Kerala and foreign countries continues to drive people abroad, a trend evident in his own family background, where his parents returned from the Gulf, while his siblings currently work overseas. The family also owns large rubber plantations in the state.

Roy further elaborated on how migration has become a long-term reality for many families. He mentioned that their children have grown accustomed to living abroad and prefer to stay in the UK rather than return to Kerala. While they miss their homeland, they may be compelled to remain overseas as their children settle there. Political parties have highlighted this issue during their campaigns, with Congress leaders emphasizing that adverse educational and industrial conditions are driving students and job seekers out of the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an NDA rally, stated that opportunities would be created in Kerala to prevent youth from seeking jobs elsewhere, while the ruling LDF has promised employment for all youths completing their education in the state.