All photos by Edwin Koo unless otherwise stated.

The Workers’ Party (WP) Members of Parliament (MPs) did not attend the National Day Rally 2015 (NDR) on Aug. 23, as it occurred on the same evening as their grassroots SG50 Celebration Dinner with some 1,800 residents.

Organised by the WP Grassroots Committee (WPGC) at the open field at Block 814 Hougang Central, the WP previously explained that this dinner was organised late last year before the date of NDR was confirmed and invites were sent out.

Whether it was pure coincidence or excellent foresight as a result of politically-savvy decision-making, there was no doubt WP missing out on NDR is the best outcome possible.

Check out Singaporean academic Cherian George's reading of the situation:

Workers Party smart to stay away from #NDRsg, which has turned into a #GE2015 campaign speech, calling Singaporeans to vote for new PAP team

— Cherian George (@cheriangeorge) August 23, 2015

And ex-Straits Times editor Zuraidah Ibrahim's take on this year's NDR:

#Singapore - PM's #ndrsg speech suggests PAP will fight #GE2015 tapping LKY's memory, external fears and plenty of family-friendly goodies.

— Zuraidah Ibrahim (@zuibrahim) August 23, 2015

But one thing is for sure: The nine Workers' Party MPs not having to sit through a few hours of PAP political posturing at the NDR meant that they could be greeted in their own back yard like this: