Climate and conflict: Heatwaves and West Asian tensions damping Kerala’s election spirit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the countdown to election day enters its final week, the political atmosphere across Kerala is reaching a fever pitch. However, candidates are finding that their traditional final push is being derailed by two unexpected enemies: extreme weather and geopolitical instability.

Heatwave vs. doorstep

The scorching temperatures have forced a radical shift in campaign schedules, leading to a new set of headaches for party workers. To avoid the midday sun, candidates have been forced to start their rounds at dawn. However, this early bird strategy is backfiring; activists report that waking up rural families at sunrise is irritating voters rather than winning them over. With outdoor activity becoming unbearable by mid-morning, effective campaigning is limited to a tiny three-hour window as visits must stop by 9:00 AM. Consequently, participation in corner meetings has plummeted, and the vibrant evening demonstrations that usually define Kerala’s election season are noticeably absent.

Long weekend exodus

The calendar is also working against the political fronts. With school holidays in full swing and a string of public holidays leaving only Saturday as a working day for government offices, a mass exodus is expected. Many officials and families are likely to take Saturday off to create a long bridge-holiday, leaving homes locked and neighbourhoods empty just as candidates arrive for their final appeals. With voting scheduled for Thursday, the window to catch voters at home before they leave for family outings is closing fast, leaving many potential supporters unreachable.

Expatriate vote crisis

Perhaps the most significant concern for the fronts in Northern Kerala is the status of the Non-Resident Keralite vote. Traditionally, thousands of Malayalis fly home from the Gulf to cast their ballots. This year, however, the ongoing conflict in West Asia has thrown travel plans into chaos. In the districts of Kozhikode, Kannur, and Malappuram alone, there are over 1.5 lakh expatriates whose ability to reach the polls remains uncertain. If the regional conflict does not subside within the week, these crucial votes could be lost entirely, potentially swinging the tide in closely contested seats.