Many expatriates in the UAE are said to pay up to AED 9,000 ( $230,000) for flight tickets to return to India and vote in the upcoming 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, polling is scheduled to take place on April 9.
Usually, tens of thousands of expatriates from Kerala return home during elections to exercise their franchise. However, Kerala expects lower voter turnout from the Gulf this time due to higher air ticket prices, reported Khaleej Times.
In Kerala, elections are scheduled for April 9, where the ruling Left Democratic Front will attempt to secure an unprecedented third consecutive term under the leadership of 81-year-old Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
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40-year-old expatriate Roy George returned to Kerala from the UK a few months ago and is preparing to vote after a gap of about 10 years. He returned to care for his ailing mother, and now finds himself part of a larger conversation about migration and return, news agency PTI reported.
Roy, a native of Changanassery in Kottayam district, said he was unsure whether he would be able to continue running his franchise in the future, reflecting the dilemma faced by many Kerala families who have moved abroad in search of better opportunities.
Immigration becomes a major issue in opinion polls
Immigration has emerged as a major issue in the election campaign, with all major political fronts promising to create better education and employment opportunities within Kerala so that people do not have to travel abroad.
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However, Roy said the issue is not limited to jobs alone. “It is good that political parties are discussing migration in elections. However, a majority of people are not moving just for work. The salary gap between Kerala and foreign countries is huge, which is what attracts us to go abroad,” he said.
His family background reflects the same pattern. His parents are back from the Gulf, while his siblings are currently working abroad. The family also owns large rubber plantations in the state.
Roy also noted how migration has become a long-term reality for many families. “Our children are accustomed to life abroad and would rather live in the UK than return to Kerala. Although we miss our native place, we may have to live abroad as our children will settle there,” he said.
Political parties also addressed this issue during election campaigns. Congress leaders have highlighted that students and job seekers are leaving the state due to unfavorable education and industrial conditions.
Addressing an NDA rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that opportunities will be created in Kerala so that youth do not have to move to other places to get jobs. Meanwhile, the ruling Liberal Democracy Party promised to provide job opportunities to all young people who complete their studies in the state.
Congress member Hibi Eden told PTI that the party is focusing on those who want to stay in Kerala but are forced to leave due to lack of opportunities.
He said: “We cannot control the brain drain. But there is a large number of people who do not want to leave the country and want to stay with their families. But due to unfavorable conditions, they are forced to move out. Therefore, opportunities must be created here.”
He added that matching salaries in Europe and the US will remain a challenge.
“We have multinational technology companies here that offer high salaries. Although they are lower than abroad, attractive pay packages can encourage people who want to come back and settle here. More such companies and infrastructure are needed,” he added.
S Irudaya Rajan, president of the International Institute for Migration and Development (IIMD), said that according to 2023 estimates, about 23-25 lakh people from Kerala are working abroad, while another 10-15 lakh people are working in other Indian states.
He said that migration is a long-term trend that cannot be stopped.
“The brain drain cannot be stopped. Instead, the authorities should focus on brain acquisition. There should be plans to attract people back after their careers abroad end, rather than allowing them to settle permanently abroad,” he said.
Rajan also said that the migration is not driven by lack of jobs or education in Kerala. “It is estimated that more than 35,000 people from other states are working in Kerala. So, we cannot say that there is a shortage of opportunities. It is the salary difference that drives people to go abroad,” he said.
He added that Gulf migration often sees people returning later in life, but migration to Europe, the United States and Australia usually leads to permanent settlement. He also noted the changing demographics, with many homes in central and southern Kerala remaining boarded up or occupied only by elderly parents.
(with PTI inputs)
