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emocratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum will attend the party’s national leadership meeting on Sunday amid growing speculation that his political rivals within the party are pushing for an extraordinary congress to oust him, his close aide said on Saturday.

The party’s deputy secretary-general, Saan Mustopa, known to be one of Anas’ aides, confirmed on Saturday that the embattled party chairman would attend the meeting at Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel in Central Jakarta, dismissing rumors Anas had mobilized supporters to boycott the meeting. More than 1,300 party officials from local executive bodies across the country are also expected to be in attendance.

Saan said Anas is slated to open the meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who chairs the party’s general assembly, to brief party members.

The rift between Anas’ supporters and those who are seeking his ejection within the ruling party, widened after a survey conducted by Saiful Muzani Research and Consulting (SMRC) found that the party’s electability rate had taken a nose dive in recent years.

Anas’ rivals argued that a slew of corruption scandals involving several Democratic Party politicians, including Anas, had severely damaged the party’s reputation. They called on the President, as the party’s chief patron, to take emergency measures to salvage the party, which led to Yudhoyono’s decision to take over the party’s leadership.

The President’s takeover of the party was followed by the resignation of his son, Edhie “Ibas” Baskoro, from the House of Representatives, further fueling speculation that Ibas would soon be tapped to replace Anas.

Yet the two competing sides have dismissed the rumors. According to Saan, the meeting at Sahid will only focus on the strategic steps to be taken to support the eight policies offered by the President to restore the party’s reputation.

“The meeting will not be a political forum like the party’s congress. It will only be a forum to find further solutions to save the party,” Saan said.

Political analysts Hanta Yuda said Sunday’s meeting might turn into a political showdown between Anas and Yudhoyono. It is possible the two sides would try to find middle ground to resolve the conflict lest the infighting will continue, he added.

“The President faces a dilemma. He has to take stern steps, but at the same time he does not want to breach the party’s constitution,” Hanta said. “Cornering Anas by calling for his dismissal through an extraordinary congress is dangerous for both sides. It’s a zero-sum game for the both sides whether Anas dares to openly fight or not.”

Even though Yudhoyono relieved Anas of his duties, the latter insisted that he was not suspended and is still serving as the party’s chairman. Anas also reportedly refused to sign a document for Yudhoyono’s eight party salvation policies, ignoring the President’s call for those who are against the policies to leave the party.

In the past few days, Muslim intellectual and Democratic Party politician Ulil Abshar Abdhalla renewed calls for Anas’ suspension or resignation. Ulil said the public wanted to see Yudhoyono be thorough in cleaning his house.

“The public is currently punishing the party as they are linking Anas with the ongoing graft investigation,” he said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Anas is implicated in the multibillion graft case centering on the establishment of the Hambalang sports center in Bogor, West Java. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has yet to officially charge him in the case, though a leaked KPK document shows Anas has become the current focus of its investigation.