Opposition parties review strategies, rally support after electoral map changes

They say they will continue to walk the ground as they firm up battle plans

- Kok Yufeng and Ang Qing

Several opposition parties are reviewing their strategies after changes to the electoral map, with some labelling themselves underdogs to drum up support and raise funds for the hustings.

The parties also said they will continue to walk the ground as they firm up their plans for the general election, which is widely expected by mid-year.

Workers' Party member Harpreet Singh Nehal — who has been spotted on walkabouts in Marine Parade GRC and is likely to contest the upcoming polls — said the WP is not daunted by the redrawing of MacPherson SMC into the newly christened Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

"If anything, this only strengthens our resolve," Mr Singh wrote in a Facebook post on March 14.

PAP MP Tin Pei Ling retained MacPherson with 71.74 per cent of the vote in the 2020 General Election.

Mr Singh, a senior counsel, added that the WP has never been one to shy away from a challenge.

"We will continue to walk the ground, engage Singaporeans, and fight for a fairer, more balanced political landscape — wherever the lines are drawn," he said.

As for its electoral plans, the WP has kept its cards close to its chest. After the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report was released on March 11, the party noted the significant changes to areas where it has been working consistently for the past few years. It said it will provide more information soon on the likely seats it will contest and its potential candidates.

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP), which narrowly lost West Coast GRC in 2020 with 48.32 per cent of the vote, on March 12 said the major electoral boundary shifts in western Singapore have made it harder for the party to enter Parliament. The party will study the EBRC report before making further announcements on where it will contest.