Expatriates take chartered flights to return home, exercise their franchisee in second phase Lok Sabha polls

-, Apr 26, 2024, India Blooms News Service

A group of expatriates took the vote vimanam (vote flight) to reach India and exercise their franchise in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, which is affiliated with the Indian Union Muslim League, organised the chartered flight to bring home the batch to India.

With poll dates nearly coinciding with Eid and Vishu season this year, the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) stepped in to provide relief to non-resident Indians.

Around 3,000 people from UAE alone have flown down so far to cast their votes in Kerala which is voting on April 26.

While the UAE chapter of the KMCC has chartered flights, the units in a few countries negotiated with travel agencies to secure discounts. KMCC is the biggest Indian diaspora group in the Gulf with lakhs of members and arranged flights for emigrants when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, reported The Indian Express.

Other organisations like Overseas Indian Cultural Congress are also chartering flights for expatriates ahead of the polls.

Anees Mohammad, a KMCC member and Malappuram resident, told the newspaper that a majority of the expatriates leaving to vote are from the area between North Kozhikode and Kannur, where Vadakara constituency falls.