W

est Java’s upcoming gubernatorial race is starting to heat up, as a major party announced on Monday six hopefuls for the election, slated for February 2012.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) announced that six candidates officially registered themselves as gubernatorial or vice gubernatorial hopefuls at the party’s regional working meeting at Hotel Horison in Bandung on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Prosperous Justice Party’s (PKS) West Java branch previously announced it would name incumbent Governor Ahmad Heryawan as its sole candidate.

The PDI-P, currently holding 17 of the 100 seats in the West Java Legislative Council, can proceed with naming a nominee, as it has met a minimum requirement of holding 15 percent of the council’s seats.

Two other parties also meet the minimum requirements for directly naming candidates: the Democratic Party (PD), comprising the largest party in the legislature with 28 seats; and the Golkar Party, in third place with 16 seats.

The PKS holds less than 15 seats and will have to form a coalition with another party to nominate Ahmad as a gubernatorial candidate.

The PDI-P meeting was attended by party central executive board (DPP) secretary-general Tjahjo Kumolo, Governor Ahmad Heryawan and local Regional Representative Council members from PD, Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and Gerindra, among others.

The six PDI-P hopefuls comprise artist and House lawmaker Rieka Diah Pitaloka, and the regents of Cirebon, Kuningan and Sumedang.

Subang Regent Eep Hidayat, who was acquitted by the Bandung Corruption Court in December, is also on the PDI-P’s list of candidates.

Tjahjo said not all six candidates would be nominated. “We will conduct surveys at the end of January and before registration in November. The surveys will not only involve party members, but also a number of names selected from external circles. We will choose those who are the most accepted by the people of West Java,” Tjahjo said in Bandung on Monday.

Local PDI-P chief Rudy Harsa Tanaya concurred, saying the party might consider forming a coalition with other parties, despite having enough votes to nominate its own candidate.

“We reflect on the 2008 gubernatorial election, when the winner was from a party coalition that was not taken into account, namely the PKS and the National Mandate Party (PAN), while major parties, like Golkar, PD and the PDI-P lost,” said Rudy.

The 2008 election was won by the PKS-PAN coalition, which nominated Ahmad and Yusuf Macan Effendi, an actor and PAN member.

Tate Qomarudin, a Regional Representatives Council member from the PKS, said he was confident that the PKS would unanimously retain Ahmad as its sole gubernatorial candidate.

“The DPD, central and branch executive boards have given their endorsements. We still need to wait for administrative approval,” Tate said.

The media has widely tipped Ahmad to pick Cirebon Regent and PDI-P member Dedi Supriadi as his running mate.

Rudy denied that Tjahjo’s handing of a gong stick to Ahmad to open the working meeting was the sign of a coalition between the PDI-P and PKS.

“The road is still long until November. We are still offering a coalition with anyone who can create a credible team and be accepted by the people of West Java,” Rudy said.