The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) can now heave a sigh of relief — the popularity of Workers' Party Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang will not spread beyond Aljunied GRC.

The leading opposition party chief told the media before his Meet-the-People Session on Wednesday that he "will not move" and he "appreciate (Aljunied residents) who have given us a chance to serve.”

Here are 5 possible reasons WP Chief Low Thia Khiang chose to stay in Aljunied GRC:

1. To protect Aljunied GRC from 3-cornered fights

The timing of the announcement was very likely to pre-empt any envious eyes on Aljunied GRC ahead of the Opposition Parties meeting this evening.

According to a TODAY report, angry National Solidarity Party (NSP) representatives threatened to contest in Aljunied GRC during Tuesday's closed-door meeting at the NSP headquarters in Jalan Besar if the Workers' Party would not back down from contesting Marine Parade GRC and the newly-formed MacPherson SMC.

2. To issue a warning to opposition parties about the consequences of a multi-cornered fight

This was a point that The Straits Times missed in their report about Low staying put in Aljunied.

Both TODAY and Lianhe Zaobao noted how Low used the example of the multi-cornered fights in Punggol East SMC in both the 2011 GE and a by-election in 2013. He commented that it was a “waste of resources” for all opposition parties.

What Low didn't say, but which should be inferred, is that all the other opposition parties that stood in Punggol East SMC in 2013 lost their election deposits. Candidates have to receive at least one-eighth of the total number of votes polled in order to avoid losing their deposits.

Compare this outcome to the 2011 General Election, where Singapore Democratic Alliance's Desmond Lim was the only opposition candidate to lose his election deposit after garnering only 4.45 per cent of the votes there.

In the Punggol East 2013 by-election, he and Reform Party Sec-Gen Kenneth Jeyaretnam lost their $16,000 deposits.

3. To create a friendly contrast to PAP candidates

Those with elephant memories will remember Low's words in GE 2011.

In his open letter to voters in Hougang and Aljunied GRC, Low described leaving Hougang as “one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my life”.

He sought Hougang residents' permission and hoped the “people of Hougang will understand and support this important decision” to leave Hougang SMC and compete in Aljunied GRC.

Imagine taking the Aljunied residents for granted and leaving Aljunied GRC to fulfill online rumours that he will "strongly compete in East Coast" (强攻东海岸).

The headlines of English papers ("Low Thia Khiang to stay and defend Aljunied", The Straits Times)("Low to stay in Aljunied, defends stance on multi-party fights", TODAY) missed a slight nuance that was captured in Lianhe Zaobao.

Lianhe Zaobao's headline was that Low kept his promise to stay and defend Aljunied GRC. *Editor's note at 11.40am: A reader has rightly pointed out that the headline should be read as Low Thia Khiang promises to stay and defend Aljunied GRC*

This is in contrast with the following PAP candidates:

a) "Son of Punggol" Koh Poh Koon, who contested in the Punggol East by-election, looks likely to contest in Ang Mo Kio GRC in a geographically promiscuous move.

b) Desmond "Always Here for You" Choo, who contested in Hougang SMC in both GE 2011 and the 2012 by-election, but is now seen as a potential Tampines GRC candidate instead.

4. To take the political heat off WP chairman Sylvia Lim

WP Chairperson and Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) Chairperson Sylvia Lim is currently seen as the face of the whole AHPETC saga.

With Low staying, Lim may possibly leave Aljunied GRC and lead a different team in East Coast GRC or Marine Parade GRC.

It is important to note that Low did not want to confirm if his fellow Members of Parliament — Lim, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh and Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap — would also stay on in the GRC.

It is, however, difficult to label Lim as a geographically-promiscuous candidate as Lim had been in Aljunied for nearly a decade, competing there since the 2006 GE.

5. To make the case for the importance of Aljunied GRC remaining in Opposition hands

Low may have calculated that Aljunied GRC may not be as safe a seat due to the AHPETC saga, hence opting to continue to lead the team standing there.

In a first-mover advantage to claim the government's hard work as WP's own, Low cited the residents' support as the reason that influences the government’s “many policy U-turns” since the last GE.

He added that the residents' support "has resulted in a better and more responsive government today.”

Top photo from Workers' Party Facebook page.

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