There could be three possible explanations for this: first, perhaps WP is worried about being able to hold Aljunied GRC if the team is split; second, that it is confident that the NCMPs Mr Yee Jenn Jong and Mr Gerald Giam have enough heft to lead the teams in Marine Parade GRC and East Coast GRC which they are also gunning for; third, that it may also mean that both Mr Low and Ms Lim will campaign in these other divisions with some level of comfort that Aljunied can be held if they are the formal candidates there. This would be the “you can have your cake and eat it too” strategy.

So, it really depends on how WP reads its current position in Aljunied GRC.  The voters will also have to think hard if they wish to turn out the WP team there – if so, both Mr Low and Ms Lim will be out of Parliament – which was the same consideration in GE2011.

If on the other hand, the WP were quite confident about Aljunied and interested in extending their reach, it may have been more effective to have two GRC teams headed by their two leaders and best-known WP politicians.

Given the language that Ms Lim used to explain the decision to keep the incumbent WP team intact, making mileage of residents’ support and how it was “meaningful” to stay as a team and in Aljunied, it becomes quite clear that this is what will happen on Nomination Day.

Dr Gillian Koh is a Senior Research Fellow at IPS. View her profile here