In spite of the plans of its chairman, Suryadharma Ali, members of the central executive board of the United Development Party (PPP) announced on Sunday that the party would hold its national congress next week, ahead of the inauguration of president-elect Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo.

The congress, known as a muktamar, is scheduled to be held from Oct. 15 to 18 in Surabaya, East Java, a matter of days earlier than the date scheduled by Suryadharma, who had sent out invitations for the muktamar for Oct. 23 to 26.

PPP deputy chairman Emron Pangkapi, who was among the executives who were dismissed by Suryadharma in a recent internal dispute, said the presence of the party chairman and his group was important to the planned congress.

'€œThe congress will serve as a reconciliation forum to end the difference among the party leaders,'€ Emron told reporters on Sunday as quoted by Antara news agency.

He also said that Suryadharma was expected to deliver his accountability report for his tenure, from 2010 to 2014, during the congress.

The internal rift among the party elites began with Suryadharma'€™s decision to endorse Prabowo Subianto as a candidate in the July presidential election.

The position of Suryadharma, who is a former religious affairs minister, suffered a severe blow following Prabowo'€™s defeat. Furthermore, Suryadharma was declared a suspect in a corruption case involving his alleged misuse of state funds to arrange a haj pilgrimage for friends and senior colleagues.

Opposition to his leadership erupted into open conflict last month when a party faction dismissed him during a meeting in Jakarta. Suryadharma fought back saying his dismissal contravened the party'€™s internal regulations. He also fired his detractors including Emron, secretary-general Muhammad Romahurmuziy and deputy chairman Suharso Monoarfa.

The splinter group went on to declare Emron as acting chairman, who then attended a national assembly of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the leader of Jokowi'€™s coalition of political parties, in Semarang, Central Java.

A week after the PDI-P assembly, PPP'€™s internal council ruled that Suryadharma must remain chairman.

During the competition to secure leadership of the People'€™s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Suryadharma'€™s faction failed to secure a seat in Prabowo'€™s Red-and-White Coalition nomination package, leading to an offer by Jokowi'€™s coalition to name the party'€™s candidate Hasrul Azwar in their nomination package.

Despite still losing the MPR leadership, the PDI-P and Jokowi have acknowledged the PPP'€™s moves toward their camp.

Jokowi has not denied meeting Emron to discuss the party'€™s plan to jump ship to the president-elect'€™s coalition, but he has said that he will not promise anything to the party before it confirms it is switching sides for a long-term partnership.

'€œWe need to make sure [about the PPP'€™s allegiance], which is still in process. If the PPP [confirms it wishes] to be in [the PDI-P-led coalition], then we can talk [about ministerial posts]. As yet, they haven'€™t,'€ Jokowi told reporters on Sunday.

Jokowi and his vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla are scheduled for inauguration on Oct. 20.

Romahurmuziy said the decision to hold the congress was valid as it was approved by more than 50 percent of regional leaders. '€œThe decision to hold the congress in Surabaya was approved by 26 of 33 regional leaders, or more than the quorum,'€ Romahurmuziy said.

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