WP Holds Its Place Amid National Swing Against Opposition

The results show there is clearly a strong desire for a continued presence by the party

- Wong Pei Ting

An air of disappointment hung over Serangoon Stadium, where WP supporters and members had gathered late on May 3 to await the results of the general election.

Many had turned up with flags bearing the party's hammer logo, as well as inflatable hammers.

But as sample counts trickled in and it became apparent that WP had failed to win any new constituency, dejected supporters started leaving the stadium grounds.

This was a far cry from the mood at the party's rock-concert-like rallies over the nine days of hustings, which was jubilant and hopeful, with crowds busting the capacity of the venues.

For WP, there was perhaps a sense of deja vu.

In 2015, spurred by its historic 2011 win in Aljunied GRC, the party had gone all out to try to seize East Coast GRC.

It fielded its best team, which then WP chief Low Thia Khiang described as the party's next generation of leaders.

In the end, WP was blindsided by a drubbing at the ballot box.

Not only did it not gain any new constituency, but it also came within a hair's breadth of losing Aljunied, winning just 50.96 per cent of the vote.

This time around, the party had gone into the election again hoping to build on the momentum of its 2020 win in Sengkang GRC.