In JBJ times, he could raise more than 30 candidates seemingly out of thin air in the 11th hour. Most of WP cadres then were oldtimers in support logistics, not candidates, but willing to help candidates willing to contest PAP. Many even signed their membership forms at the last minute. How to be instant cadres?
In LTK times, a new batch was groomed from 2001. Most of GE 2006 candidates were already cadres before the GE. The rest of the few were made cadres based on their performance and efforts befor and during the GE, I believe. Some election agents were nominated for cadreship too. Some went through, some didn't. Anyway even as cadres, quite a number has resigned over political differences or personal reasons. GE 2011 batch is different, most candidates were not yet cadres. I guess they couldn't make them all in one batch and of course, the winning candidates and those who helped the most in logistics get it first.
The concept I meant refers to membership status. There's no point being in cadreship if one is unable to contribute the time and commitment to the operation of the party year and year out, week in and week out, not just during election seasons, even as a candidate. I'm sure you know the weightage applied on contribution to weekly Hammer sales. One can be made cadre just based on that as that's seen to be of core importance of outreach to the heartlands.