CITY COUNCIL ELECTION 1957

Following the acceptance of the Rendel and McNeice Commission recommendations, the new CC would absorb the Rural Districts Committees and, unlike the previous CC where elected seats made up two-thirds, all seats were open for election. Like the Legislative Assembly GE of 1955, parties were also permitted to use standard symbols. All PP seats had gone under the new LSP after amalgamation with DP and two LP City Councillors and an independent came into the governing LF, while the remaining LP Councillors decided to quit politics as the party languished. LF worked with the main opposition PAP, each fielding candidates in half the number of seats and avoid contests against each other to counter the powerful LSP, which contested all seats. Former Chief Minister David Marshall, who had earlier resigned from LF, formed WP, which was to become an enduring opposition party in years to come. UMNO and MCA were left as partners in alliance after expelling SMU for sending a candidate for the 1957 by-election. According to historical narrations, the communists backed the two new entrants, PAP and WP. With that, PAP came out on top in the race, winning the most seats and all except one of its contested seats. A PAP-UMNO coalition was formed and left out the trounced LF without a share of power. WP also fared well in its first electoral bid. Later, PAP's Ong Eng Guan was elected Mayor of the CC and became the first Mayor in Singapore.

Nomination day: 18 November 1957 [Mon]
Polling day: 21 December 1957 [Sat]

Total voters: 504,291
Total voter turnout: 165,404 (32.8%)

Election deposit: $250

RESULTS
Aljunied Geylang East Kreta Ayer Stamford
Anson Geylang West Moulmein Tanglin
Bras Basah Havelock Mountbatten Tanjong Pagar
Bukit Merah Hong Lim Pasir Panjang Telok Ayer
Cairnhill Jalan Besar Queenstown Telok Blangah
Crawford Kallang River Valley Tiong Bahru
Delta Kampong Glam Rochore Toa Payoh
Farrer Park Kampong Kapor Sepoy Lines Ulu Pandan
Total seats = 32


Home