In a stunning development during the recent elections, independent candidates have emerged as a formidable force, capturing over 35% of the vote share—a first in 53 years! This remarkable performance even outpaced some of the smaller opposition parties.

Among those making headlines are Jeremy Tan and Darryl Lo, who contested in the Mountbatten SMC and Radin Mas SMC respectively. They recently sat down with hosts Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards to discuss their campaigning experiences and what lies ahead after GE2025.

The Landscape of Political Alliances

As the conversation unfolded, Steven Chia probed whether other political parties were courting these independent voices. Darryl Lo revealed his interactions have mostly been with smaller parties, indicating that his candidacy may not have attracted the interest of larger political entities. Similarly, Jeremy Tan expressed that he is engaging in conversations with various groups, highlighting a general dissatisfaction with the performance of current political heavyweights, particularly the ruling Party.

A Surprising Turn of Events

The election results stunned many, signaling a shift in voter preference. Jeremy pointed out that in constituencies contested by the Workers' Party, the absolute votes exceeded those for the PAP, yet the PAP maintained more seats—raising eyebrows about the electoral system. He plans on advocating for changes to the electoral boundaries to better connect with voters directly.

Looking Ahead to 2030

Both candidates expressed concerns about the 2030 elections. With Jeremy residing in Marine Parade, he reflects on the unpredictability of future boundaries, recalling his experiences with walkovers. He aims to tackle the challenges posed by potential boundary changes between Marine Parade and Mountbatten.

Darryl echoed these sentiments, noting that in this election, parts of West Coast were unexpectedly included in Radin Mas, leaving both candidates uncertain about how the electoral landscape will shift in the coming years.

As these independent candidates continue to navigate the complex political terrain, one thing is clear: the winds of change are blowing, and the future of GE2025 could look quite different than expected. Stay tuned as we monitor how these developments unfold!