Expats from Malappuram are busy campaigning for by-poll

Dubai - There are over 1,000 registered Non-Resident Indian voters in the parliamentary constituency and the role of expatriates is crucial

As the Malappuram parliamentary constituency in the Malabar region of Kerala is gearing up for parliamentary by-election, expatriates from the district are busy campaigning through various channels. Malappuram district has the largest overseas population from Kerala, according to a recent survey, and the community actively participates in any elections back home.
While many Malappuram expatriates in the Gulf, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are taking a flight to cast their votes, many are campaigning through social media, WhatsApp groups and small group meetings.
There are over 1,000 registered Non-Resident Indian voters in the parliamentary constituency and the role of expatriates is crucial as many family heads are working in the Gulf, especially in Saudi and the UAE. The by-poll in the Malappuram constituency on April 12, 2017, was prompted following the death of sitting MP E Ahmed in New Delhi.
KMCC Malappuram Committee has been coordinating the by-election campaign among the over 200,000-strong overseas community from Malappuram. Issues like beef, triple talaq have dominated the campaign and caught the attention of national media.
"We are campaigning among female voters, and workers in various markets and groups. Some people are going home to exercise their franchise," said Anwar Naha, president, Dubai KMCC, the overseas wing of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Its leader P K Kunjalikutty is trying to find a place in India's national politics by contesting for the parliamentary seat.
"Malappuram by-election is a fight against fascism. Even though it is Muslim League contesting, there is an agreement to defeat the LDF candidate. There is a need to have a broad anti-fascist group because even in the Indian parliament it is the CPM members who take strong position against fascism. Even Muslim League, which is to protect the minority community, is having some understanding with the BJP to repeat a North Indian style politics in Kerala," said K L Gopi, LDF supporter in the UAE.
Apprehensions are also raised about the use of Electronic Voting Machines after recent controversies emerged in the Indian media.
The BJP, which is ruling the national political scene, is trying to make its presence felt in Kerala where it got its first MLA in last assembly polls.
"We have created special WhatsApp group of nearly 1,000 members, and its members are active. We are also trying to get Badu Shah Thangal, member of the Panakkadu family, to Dubai and increase our vote share. The BJP is getting a soft corner from minority communities now. In Kerala, the Morcha has considerable number of Christians and Muslims. The Minority Morcha State vice-president will be coming to the UAE," said Bageesh Pooradam, BJP leader.
The BJP candidate has even promised to give halal beef in Malappuram as part of his campaign - a position contrary to the party's cam-paign against beef and cow slaughter in other parts of India.
"We have organised Rajyasabha, a meeting of Dubai KMCC Malappuram unit in association with a local Malayalam television channel, NTV, which witnessed good participation from voters."
United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate and IUML leader P K Kunjalikutty, LDF candidate Faisal and BJP's Sree Prakash are contesting the elections for this seat.
Kunjalikutty, a former minister in UDF governments, is keen to play an important role at the national level as the minority Muslim community is allegedly on the defensive under a BJP government in New Delhi.
E. Ahmed was the national face of the League, which will now be replaced with Kunjalikutty, a smart player in Kerala's coalition politics. In the 2014 general elections, E Ahmed had won the seat with a big margin of 194,000 votes.
"Malappuram and Kasargode are constituencies with largest expatriate community. The UDF campaigns through social media are to highlight an anti-government campaign. Heated discussions and debates are conducted and many voters are planning to go to vote. Due to higher ticket rates, many voters have changed their mind," said Suresh Vallimattam, head of NTV channel, who organised special Rajyasabha for Malappuram voters in Dubai. Earlier, elections special flights were chartered to carry voters to cast their ballots in Kerala elections.
Many plan to fly home to cast their votes
> Malappuram district has the largest overseas population from Kerala.
> The by-poll will be held on April 12, 2017.
> Many Malappuram expatriates in the Gulf plan to take a flight home to cast their votes
> Active campaigning is also done through social media, WhatsApp groups and small group meetings.
sathish@khaleejtimes.com

• India