GE: Opposition parties locked in tussle in at least 8 constituencies - 13Apr2011

SINGAPORE : Opposition parties have said that they want to contest all 27 constituencies at the coming polls.

If that happens, it will be the first time all seats in a General Election (GE) are contested since Singapore's Independence.

Singapore has been divided into 12 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and 15 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). That makes 27 constituencies in all.

At this point, three constituencies could see walkovers. They are Ang Mo Kio, Tanjong Pagar and Sembawang.

That leaves 24 constituencies likely to be contested, including all SMCs.

Several three-cornered fights have emerged, despite the opposition saying it wants to avoid such fights.

That's because that would dilute the opposition's chances of winning against the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) in those constituencies.

Five SMCs and one GRC are looking to become three-cornered fights.

At Joo Chiat SMC, the Workers' Party (WP) will likely face Independent candidate Andrew Kuan and the PAP's Charles Chong.

The Workers' Party and Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) are also both interested in contesting Punggol East and Sengkang West SMCs.

Both opposition parties claim they have been working in the area over the past five years.

The National Solidarity Party (NSP) is also locked in a tussle with the Workers' Party to contest Moulmein-Kallang GRC.

The ward is formed from parts of the former Jalan Besar GRC which NSP contested in the last two elections in 2006 and 2001.

The Workers' Party is claiming the area because of its proximity to Aljunied GRC, where it had a strong showing in 2006, garnering 43.9 per cent of valid votes.

The other SMCs likely to see three-cornered fights are Pioneer SMC - with the Reform Party and the NSP gunning for the ward - as well as Hong Kah North, with both the Reform Party (RP) and the Singapore People's Party (SPP) wanting to contest there.

Two other SMCs may see four-cornered fights.

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), the Reform Party and the National Solidarity Party have all expressed interest in Yuhua, while Radin Mas SMC is likely to see the Reform Party, the SDA and the NSP locked in battle with the PAP.

Another ward to watch is the Marine Parade GRC, helmed by Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. It will likely see its first contest since 1992, from the NSP.

Veteran opposition figure Chiam See Tong has left his stronghold of Potong Pasir to helm the Singapore People's Party team at Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

All eyes will also be on Aljunied GRC, where the Workers' Party was the best performing opposition team there in 2006.

To form the government, all the PAP needs is to secure a simple majority.

That's 44 out of the total 87 seats in Parliament.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 154thmedia
• Singapore
• General
• Election
• GE2011
• 27
• constituencies

[bleusoup]

that sucks.

[DiarySG]

Quite sad the latest state of play.

30% vote NSP.

30% vote RP.

PAP wins with 40% even though 60% voted for opposition.