View source for 1966 Parliamentary By-election (March)


The March 1966 parliamentary by-elections were held to fill three vacant seats in Singapore’s Parliament. These resignations followed internal conflicts within Barisan Sosialis and marked a continuation of the political shifts and tensions that characterized Singapore’s early years as an independent republic.

=== Background ===
The vacancies arose after three Barisan Sosialis Members of Parliament resigned, citing discontent with the leadership of party chairman Dr. Lee Siew Choh:

# '''Chio Cheng Thun''': Resigned on 8 January 1966 and was subsequently expelled from Barisan six days later.
# '''Kow Kee Seng''': Resigned alongside Chio Cheng Thun on 8 January 1966 and faced expulsion from the party on the same timeline.
# '''S. T. Bani''': Resigned from both his parliamentary seat and Barisan on 9 January 1966 while still in detention. He was released a month later and announced his retirement from politics.

The resignations underscored internal divisions within Barisan Sosialis, weakening the party’s influence in Parliament.

=== By-Elections ===
The People’s Action Party (PAP) fielded candidates in all three constituencies. Notably, the PAP candidates won uncontested, a scenario not seen since the Legislative and City Council by-elections of 1952 and 1953, respectively.

=== Election Details ===

* '''Writ of Election Issued''': 23 February 1966 (Wednesday)
* '''Nomination Day''': 1 March 1966 (Tuesday)
* '''Swearing-In Ceremony''': 21 April 1966 (Thursday)
* '''Electorate''': 36,573
* '''Election Deposit''': $500

=== Significance ===
The March 1966 by-elections were significant for several reasons:

# '''Barisan Sosialis Decline''': The resignations and uncontested victories highlighted the continuing fragmentation and decline of Barisan Sosialis as a political force in Singapore.
# '''PAP Dominance''': The uncontested wins further solidified PAP’s political dominance, signaling broad support for its governance during a critical period of nation-building.
# '''Political Stability''': The lack of contest reflected the diminishing opposition against the PAP in Parliament, contributing to a period of relative political stability as Singapore consolidated its independence.

[[Category:Elections]]