Hundreds of Keralites working in the Gulf are coming home to cast their votes in the Assembly elections. Many have already reached home when others are flying in in the next two days.
The Malayali diaspora in the Gulf have responded positively to the elections not only by campaigning for their favourite fronts and candidates, but also by ensuring that a good number of them reach home to exercise their franchise. Unlike in the previous elections, they have not charted any flight. But a ‘vote flight’ is reaching Karipur from Bahrain on Saturday carrying a large group of Malayalis. The Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) of Bahrain has taken the lead to arrange the journey for many, though the tickets were booked individually.
Ashraf Vengatt, general secretary of the KMCC national unit in Saudi Arabia, said that many working in different parts of Saudi had booked tickets. He said expatriates from Saudi, Oman, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait had made travel plans for the ballot.
“We helped many to get leave and tickets,” he said. Major airlines operating from Karipur, including Air India, said they had an increased demand for tickets in the election days.
K. Abdul Qadar from Othayi near Edavanna said he came home from Jizan, KSA, only to vote. So did C.P. Mujeeb Rahman from Pathapiriyam. C.T. Mohammed Safeer from Chathallur will land on Saturday from Riyadh. His wife Nishana still cannot digest the driving spirit behind his vote journey. “He must be crazy,” she said.
“It’s our right. We are proud to come home to vote,” Mr. Qadar said, in apparent answer to Ms. Nishana.
Two sons of P.V. Abdul Wahab, MP, will reach home on the polling day and return the same day. “œThey are coming to vote with the family. They know how important it is,” Mr. Wahab said.
The Malayali diaspora in Gulf have responded positively to the elections
