SINGAPORE - The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has pipped the People's Action Party (PAP) to be the first to hold a lunchtime rally in the city this election season.

The surprise turn was announced on Sunday evening (Sept 6), when police released a list of 10 rally sites for Monday (Sept 7).

The SDP has the site, at the promenade area beside UOB Plaza in the Boat Quay area, from noon to 2pm.

The PAP was expected to hold its city rally on Monday, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters on Saturday that he would be speaking more about his party's policies at a lunchtime rally on Monday.

The police declined to reveal how many parties had applied for the spot before the SDP won the ballot, citing the privacy of the balloting process.

Having got the Monday slot, the SDP will not be able to bid for it again for Tuesday (Sept 8).

Under rally site rules, a party which is allocated a site must give way to other applicants that apply for the same site at the same time the next day. This gives contesting parties and independent candidates more chances to use the same venue.

The earliest the PAP can now hold a lunchtime rally will be on Tuesday, and a party spokesman said it has re-applied for the same site.