Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has handed over the reins of Marine Parade to Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, who will be the new anchor minister for the five-member GRC.

Mr Goh said on his Facebook page on Sunday that he had met with MPs and branch leaders on Saturday and told them that Mr Tan has taken over as anchor minister.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a grassroots event on Sunday, Mr Tan confirmed that he would take over the coordinating role from Mr Goh but added that people should not try and read too much into it.

"I suppose being an anchor minister it's helpful that you are a minister from cabinet. But I guess the main thing is that in the GRC team you have someone playing perhaps a slightly more forward role to front the GRC."

Mr Goh has led the Marine Parade GRC team for decades. He first started contesting in Marine Parade in 1976. He stepped down from the Cabinet shortly after the 2011 General Election.