[sgbuffett]

He did not campaign, he did not have any posters. He did not go round to solicit votes.

He was running against PAP endorsed candidate Ong Teng Cheong. Both Ong and PAP were much more popular than PAP of today. 

Yet  the other contestant who was a token candidate gained 41% of the votes.

Having someone else other than people from the PAP has always been a big deal to many for the Presidency. That is why many were so upset with who Mdm Halimah was pushed into presidency with favorable rule changes and an eventual no contest walk over. Nobody wanted that and it marred her entire presidency.

This time Tharman and Kok Song who are both linked closely to the PAP will split the vote. Kong Song was LKY meditation teacher, and worked closely with PAP members in GIC. 

The only candidate who does not have links to the PAP is TKL
 Not only does he not have PAP links. Yout can say he often opposes the PAP kn various issues. For eacmple he spoke up during  protest of the Population White Paper in 2013

Where was NKS and Tharman?...They supported the Population White Paper?

TKL is some one without airs and takes the bus. He posts sometimes silly posts on social media, just like ordinary people. He is not pretentious. Unlike the 2 other candidates who sometimes look like they are high in their Ivory tower, TKL is one of us and represents us.