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GE2015: Showing true colours on Nomination Day

People gathering at Raffles Institution on Nomination Day

When it comes for Singaporeans to show their true political colours across party lines, it can’t get any more exciting than on Nomination Day as the nation gears up for General Election 2015.

While election rallies typically attract large crowds, supporters from the different parties tend to congregate separately at rally venues. On Nomination Day, their paths cross regardless of their political leaning, and they converge at designated Nomination Centres (NCs).

On Tuesday (1Sep), when the candidates contesting in this year’s general election were being confirmed at nine NCs across Singapore, they were accompanied by supporters wearing apparel and carrying paraphernalia in shades of white, blue, red, yellow, green and other colours.

At Raffles Institution (RI), one of the NCs, many white-clad People's Action Party (PAP) supporters pinned their badges of allegiance on their chests, and carried flags and banners bearing the party logo. The contests to be announced here were for the Aljunied GRC, Ang Mo Kio GRC, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Sengkang West SMC. Some of the PAP supporters were using white-coloured umbrellas to shield themselves from the unyielding heat.

PAP supporters gathering at Raffles Institution
PAP supporters gathering at Raffles Institution

It was like a carnival event for Team White, with a number of the supporters sitting on the ground - water bottles in hand – and breaking into song as they awaited the announcements of the PAP members who will contest in the GE. Supporters were also holding song leaflets and singing familiar tunes like "We Are Singapore".

On the other side of the political divide, opposition supporters were also gathering in large numbers.

It was shades of blue at one part of the RI field where those associated with the Workers' Party (WP) were seen in high spirits as they cheered on the party’s candidates.

WP supporters at Raffles Institution
WP supporters at Raffles Institution

Not to be outdone, the supporters of the Singapore People's Party (SPP) togged in red and the yellow-clad Reform Party (RP) supporters were also gripped by excitement and chanting loudly.

The day’s events reached a crescendo when the confirmed candidates came out at a podium to greet the crowd. Both sides were trying to outdo each other on the decibel scale with their symphony of applause and jeering.

Not surprising, PAP, WP and RP supporters filtered out even before the SPP team had finished speaking - an unfortunate consequence of them being the last batch of candidates to address the crowd. After standing in the sun for a few hours, many supporters were just looking forward to get some well-deserved rest and prepare for the electoral battles ahead.

Be it by foot, public or chartered transport, supporters from all sides left the centre in an orderly fashion. All eyes are now on the rallies to be held in the period leading up to the GE on 11 September.

Get ready for the election season to hit fever pitch.