All eyes on 'hot' GRCs

On the day of candidate nominations for the general election, question marks still hang over where several bigwigs from both the ruling PAP and the WP, Singapore's main opposition party, will be fielded.

- Kenneth Cheng

While the PAP has announced its line-up for 28 out of the 33 constituencies for the May 3 polls, it has kept resolutely mum on plans for the keenly watched East Coast GRC, as well as the Punggol and Tanjong Pagar GRCs.

This has raised questions about whether some of its heavyweights may be moved to other seats come Nomination Day on April 23.

Perhaps one of the biggest questions is whether Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will continue to anchor the PAP's East Coast GRC team, move to another constituency, or retire from politics.

There is also mystery around who will anchor the PAP's Punggol GRC team, a new battleground where a showdown with the WP is expected.

The slate in Tanjong Pagar GRC, anchored by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing in the last election, also hangs in the balance after Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah's surprise move to the new Pasir Ris-Changi GRC.

She will replace Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean. Observers said SM Teo could end up being fielded elsewhere, including in Punggol GRC.

The PAP's candidates for the Queenstown and Radin Mas SMCs are also unconfirmed.

The ruling party is expected to be challenged at the polls for all 97 seats, with 10 opposition parties likely to field candidates when nomination proceedings close at noon on April 23.

On the other side of the aisle, the WP has publicly introduced 14 new candidates, but has otherwise held its electoral cards close to its chest.

It has thus far confirmed only where two of the 14 new faces will stand, and has not ruled out fielding more on Nomination Day.

Apart from its Aljunied GRC crown jewel, which it has held since 2011, Sengkang GRC that it won in 2020, and the Hougang single seat that has been in WP hands since 1991, the party has not confirmed the other constituencies it would contest.