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ontrary to earlier vows to remain united, the rift between rival camps within the National Mandate Party (PAN) has only deepened a day after the party elected Zulkifli Hasan as its new chairman.

Two prominent figures within Hatta'€™s circle, current deputy chairman Drajad Wibowo and leader of PAN'€™s faction at the House of Representatives, Tjatur Sapto Edy, who had actively campaigned for Hatta'€™s second term as chairman, announced their resignations on Monday following Hatta'€™s loss in a tight race a day earlier.

While Tjatur told reporters that he was considering tendering his resignation as leader of PAN'€™s faction at the House without elaborating further, Drajad said that he would leave the party'€™s chairmanship structure because of Hatta'€™s loss.

'€œI'€™ve had this planned since earlier in the year. I decided that I would distance myself from the party'€™s leadership board if Bang [brother] Zul [Zulkifli'€™s nickname] took over the chairmanship,'€ Drajad said on the sidelines of PAN'€™s national congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday.

'€œBut I will still be an active member of the party. I can still fight for political aspirations in PAN'€ he added.

PAN carried out the last of its three-day congress'€™ activities on Monday. Members engaged in formulating the party'€™s five-year course of action as well as elected a new chief of the party'€™s high assembly.

However, unlike the previous two days when the congress'€™ venue was packed with supporters of both Zulkifli and Hatta, the venue was half empty during Monday'€™s session as Hatta'€™s camp reportedly refused to attend.

Hatta supporters claimed they were prohibited from attending the closing session, an accusation the rival camp quickly refuted.

A spokesperson for Zulkifli'€™s team, lawmaker Yandri Susanto, ensured that '€œall were invited to attend but apparently not everyone could make it'€.

The Monday session saw the unchallenged election of senior politician Soetrisno Bachir as leader of the high assembly, taking over the position from cofounder Amien Rais, who has been appointed chairman of the party'€™s honorary council, a new body that was set up on Monday.

The installment of both individuals contradicted Zulkifli'€™s earlier remarks, which highlighted a promise to equally involve elites from both fighting factions as a means to put an end to the rivalry between the two camps under his leadership, as both Amien and Soetrisno had voiced support for Zulkifli.

Zulkifli has denied favoritism in the installment of the two individuals and to prevent tensions from further escalating following his victory, Zulkifli said he would meet with Hatta to discuss the latter'€™s recommendations for members of the party'€™s central board.

'€œI must emphasize that PAN remains united. Differences are normal but we are fine. I will discuss the matter with Pak Hatta. I believe everyone will stay together for PAN,'€ Zulkifli said.