The People’s Action Party (PAP) has introduced two new members, Jagathishwaran Rajo and Kenny Sim Mong Keang, to the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team as branch chairmen of the Eunos and Paya Lebar divisions, respectively. This move signals the party’s commitment to reclaim the constituency currently held by the opposition Workers’ Party (WP) in the forthcoming General Election.
Jagathishwaran transitions from a 16-year grassroots tenure in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC’s Zhenghua ward to taking over the Eunos division from Chua Eng Leong, a bank executive who was part of the unsuccessful PAP team in the last elections. His experience includes being a part of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and his current roles at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Staff Union (IRASSU) and as assistant director of the National Trades Union Congress’s Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit.
Kenny Sim, a party activist since 2015, ascends from the vice-chairman role in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC’s Bukit Timah ward. He brings to the table his leadership experience from the Citizens’ Consultative Committee and a business background as CEO and executive director of the listed firm Serial Achieva.
Both newcomers are poised to be in PAP’s electoral list for the Aljunied GRC in the next General Election due by November next year. The GRC was historically captured by the WP in 2011, marking the first time an opposition party won a GRC since the system’s introduction in 1988.
The WP, under then-secretary-general Low Thia Khiang, clinched 54.72% of votes with a team that included the now-Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh. It successfully defended the seat in subsequent elections, with a notable win in the 2020 polls when the team led by Mr. Singh secured 59.95% of the votes – the largest winning margin for the WP in a GRC.
In addition, the WP secured its second GRC with a victory in Sengkang during the last election. The opposition’s growing presence prompted PAP’s strategy refresh, leading to new appointments in opposition wards, including Sengkang GRC and Hougang, which WP has controlled since 1991.
The PAP has been bolstering its visibility in these areas with community events and walkabouts. In Sengkang GRC, they have brought forward new faces, such as Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat and venture capital firm principal Theodora Lai as branch chairmen, hinting at their preparations for the next electoral challenge.
