Early Childhood Educator Vigneswari V Ramachandran Eyes Third Election Run with PAR

Vigneswari V Ramachandran, at the age of 43, has been introduced as one of the prospective candidates for the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR). This upcoming election, if she receives a nomination, will mark her third attempt at securing a seat, having previously contested in the Ang Mo Kio GRC in 2011 with a result of 30.67 percent against the ruling People's Action Party (PAP). Her second attempt was in the 2020 general elections when she stood with the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, where she received 12.17 percent of the votes in a three-way contest.

Ms. Vigneswari expressed her desire to represent Jalan Besar GRC, a constituency she has a personal connection to, having previously lived there. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in inclusive and special needs education, she stated that if elected, she would prioritize advocacy for these issues. She challenged the notion that the cost of addressing special needs education is unfeasible, emphasizing that there is a systemic issue regarding funding for such initiatives. She supports the PAR's proposal for free education for all children in Singapore, particularly highlighting the benefits for those with special needs.

cost of living, public housing affordability, job security, institutional reforms, and reclaiming Singapore's identity concerning immigration. He promised that the party would detail their manifesto, which will outline strategies to fund free education, school meals, and healthcare for all Singaporean children.

In light of PAP's recently launched manifesto, Mr. Lim criticized the ruling party’s focus on external factors, such as tariffs imposed by the United States, claiming that these issues do not resonate with the concerns of everyday Singaporeans. He pointed out the potential for Singapore to attract businesses affected by higher tariffs in other countries due to its lower baseline tariffs.

The PAR, established in 2023, is preparing for the upcoming elections, with Mr. Lim confirming plans to contest in both Tanjong Pagar GRC and Jalan Besar GRC, both of which may see competitive races with other parties. At the last elections, Tanjong Pagar GRC witnessed a direct contest between PAP and PSP, with PAP emerging victorious. As for Jalan Besar GRC, it remains unchanged from the previous electoral boundaries and has the same number of seats to fill. Fellow PAR member Dr. Michael Fang has announced his candidacy in Yio Chu Kang SMC for this election cycle.