City
Epaper

Kerala diaspora likely to get voting rights

By IANS | Updated: July 2, 2019 13:55 IST

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday informed the Kerala Assembly that his government will initiate discussions on how best the Kerala diaspora could participate in the upcoming local bodies elections.

Open in App

Vijayan said this after the Deputy Leader of Opposition M.K. Muneer asserted that it's high time that the Kerala diaspora, who has been the backbone of the Kerala economy for several decades, should get their right to exercise their franchise.

Munner said: "The situation today on diaspora voting rights has been cleared by the Lok Sabha and even the judiciary. Today in Canada and the US, their diaspora have the privilege of taking part in elections, even while they are out of the country.

"So I request the Kerala government to see how best we can allow our diaspora to take part in elections, when the local bodies polls take place next year. We can look into options like proxy or even postal votes for them," said Muneer.

According to the latest figures, there are 2.1 million migrants from Kerala across the world, of which a good majority will be able to exercise their franchise if given opportunity.

Vijayan said: "For this to become a reality, several things have to fall in place, as it requires coordination with various departments... With favourable responses from appropriate bodies, we will definitely begin discussions on this with the various stake holders on how to go about it."

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: keralaLok Sabha
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalPM Narendra Modi Arrives at Parliament House To Cast His Vote for Vice Presidential Election

NationalAbu Dhabi-Bound IndiGo Flight Returns to Kochi After Technical Snag, Lands Safely

LifestyleOnam 2025 Wishes: Send Thiruvonam Greetings and Messages on WhatsApp to Your Family and Friends

NationalKerala Shocker: Thiruvananthapuram Congress Panchayat Member Sreeja S Found Dead; Suicide Suspected

MaharashtraMaharashtra Ganeshotsav Gift: Centre Releases Advance Salaries for Central Govt Staff Ahead of Festival

National Realted Stories

NationalProtest erupts in Jharkhand’s Giridih after bodies of two women recovered from forest

NationalBig day for democracy; BJD, BRS should have voted, says AAP MP on VP election

NationalPro-Pakistan slogans raised during Eid-e-Milad procession in K'taka, FIR lodged

NationalDelhi HC to pass order protecting personality rights of Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai

NationalAt Hong Kong Summit, Dr Priti Adani urges global philanthropists to act as ‘co-builders of change’