Alappuzha (Kerala): The mass departure of migrant workers, locally known as "bhais", to West Bengal for the state assembly elections has triggered a severe crisis across Kerala. In Alappuzha district alone, construction sites and hotels are struggling to operate due to a lack of staff, with services as basic as haircuts being disrupted. The West Bengal elections are scheduled in two phases on April 23 and 29. Most workers are expected to return only after these dates, leaving hoteliers and contractors in a bind.

Rumours spreading among migrant workers—claiming that failure to vote would lead to removal from voter lists, deactivation of Aadhaar cards, and loss of citizenship—have fueled this exodus. Political leaders in Bengal reportedly facilitated the journey by providing train tickets.

Similarly, workers from Tamil Nadu have begun leaving for their state’s elections on April 23, affecting laundry and ironing services. While workers from Assam left earlier for their April 9 elections, they are only just beginning to return.

Bridge work abandonded by 60 Bengal workers

The construction of the Makkekadavu-Nerekadavu bridge, part of the Thuravoor-Pamba road, has been hit hard. Approximately 60 workers from Bengal involved in the approach road construction left a few days ago. To prevent further delays, contractors have attempted to manage the crisis by bringing in labourers from states where elections are not currently held, such as Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.

Fear of citizenship loss; 40 depart coir company

At a coir company in Muhamma, 40 out of 85 migrant workers have returned home. The mass departure was driven by fears that their citizenship would be revoked if they did not vote. While the export slump caused by the West Asia conflict has cushioned the impact on the coir industry, other sectors like grass-cutting have been severely affected.

Funds allocated, but no labourers for roadwork

In the Chengannur region, funds for roadworks were sanctioned at the end of the financial year, but contractors cannot find workers. Plans to complete work before the monsoon are now in jeopardy as the Bengali workers, who handle the majority of tarring and manual labour, have left. Large crowds of workers were seen at Chengannur railway station on Saturday heading towards Bengal.

MP quota used to bring back tea maker

The owner of "Hot Plate Bakery" in Cherthala is making extraordinary efforts to bring back a skilled tea maker from Assam who went home to vote on April 9. Due to the heavy rush in trains and the lack of reservations, the owner, Dinu, is trying to secure a ticket via the MP (Member of Parliament) quota, claiming no one else can make tea as good as him. Meanwhile, a contractor in Eramalloor took the initiative to book round-trip tickets for 27 of his Bengali workers to ensure their return.

Family pressure and rumours

In Haripad, 20 workers left a single hotel after being pressured by their families. Reports suggest they were told they would receive money for voting and would lose their citizenship if they stayed away.

Call for chief secretary’s intervention

Varghese Kannampally, State President of the Kerala Government Contractors Association, has urged the Chief Secretary to convene an urgent meeting. He noted that the combination of the labour exodus, the West Asia conflict, and extreme heat has created an unprecedented crisis. With Bengali workers not expected back until late May, construction is at a standstill. In addition, the conflict has driven up the price of bitumen, tiles and electrical items.

The Hotel and Restaurant Association also confirmed that many establishments are on the verge of closure due to the sudden staff shortage.