Number of candidates matters

Political observers said that the number of candidates could significantly influence the outcome of the Punggol East by-election. SMU Assistant Professor of Law Eugene Tan foresees a straight fight come Nomination Day. "Over the next few days, we'll see a fair bit of posturing. The opposition parties are alive to the fact that a multi-cornered fight will hand victory to the PAP. And many of them will stand to lose their election deposits," he said. Assistant Prof Tan expects them to extract concessions from each other in carving out territory for the next general election, in return for pulling out and leaving just one standing to fight the PAP. He also said that the PAP has the edge as it is the incumbent with well-oiled machinery. The opposition would not have enough time to work the ground, he added. "I wouldn't be surprised if the PAP won, but with a smaller winning margin."