MALAPPURAM: The Muslim League candidates in Malappuram are targeting the expatriate population in the Gulf countries for campaigning. The constituency committees of KMCC, the party’s expatriate wing in the Gulf countries, have been organizing various programmes for their candidates.
Eranad MLA P.K. Basheer, who is seeking re-election, has just wound up his campaign in the UAE and gone to Saudi Arabia. According to the MLA’s personal assistant, Mr Basheer did three -day campaigning in Dubai. He will attend programmes in Saudi cities of Jeddah and Riyadh before heading back to Eranad by March 30 after performing Umrah.
The new entrant in the fray Mr T.V. Ibrahim of Kondotty constituency is hesitant to accept all the invitations pouring in from KMCC units. However, he will fly to Qatar next week for the UDF election programme conducted by the voters from Kondotty constituency.
“Invitations are galore especially from Saudi Arabia where the maximum number of expat voters from Kondotty reside among the Gulf countries. I don’t know whether I could attend all those meeting and want to spend more time in Kondotty itself. I will attend a one-day programme in Qatar on April 1,” Mr Ibrahim told DC.
It is learnt that some other candidates, including ministers too, are planning campaigns in Gulf cities. The KMCC has been active ever since election was declared. It will charter special Air India flights to take expat voters to the polling booths.
They have also started online voter registration for the expats. Malappuram district has an expatriate population of around three lakh in countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait.
