Global events are directly influencing Kerala’s 2026 Assembly elections. Conflict involving Iran and West Asia tensions have disrupted Gulf-Kerala flights and spiked airfares, leaving thousands of Non-Resident Keralites unable to return. Constituencies in Malabar with large NRK populations face razor-thin margins, making absentee votes a potential game-changer. Parties are intensifying local mobilisation and online campaigns, while discussions around e-voting and electoral reforms gain urgency. This explainer covers how global conflicts, travel disruption, and voter absence could reshape the Kerala political landscape.