LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY GENERAL ELECTIONS 1963

This elections went down in history as PAP's most hard-fought one ever. Holding just 39 seats after two by-election defeats and two defections to UPP, PAP expelled 13 of their Assemblymen in an open political battle between two factions and was left hanging onto a slim one-seat majority of 26 to 25. The group formed a new party, BS. A month prior to the elections, PAP's Mdm Ho Puay Choo joined BS, bringing PAP 25 to 26 against opposition, but UPP and former PAP Assemblyman S. V. Lingam switched back, and PAP was back with its one-seat majority. Five days later, PAP Minister Ahmad bin Ibrahim passed away to leave a 25 to 25 stand-off in the House. PAP avoided by-elections, choosing instead to call for general elections to court a fresh mandate. Fielding a full slate again, facing strong challenges from a BS-PR alliance, Ong Eng Guan's UPP and SA without former leader and Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock, each with almost a full slate, PAP nevertheless managed to eke out an election victory. All except three constituencies saw a total of 92 candidates losing their deposits.

Nomination day: 12 September 1963
Polling day: 21 September 1963

Total voters: 617,650
Total voter turnout: 587,433 (95.1%)

Election deposit: $500