Surabaya mayor and deputy mayor candidates Tri Rismaharini and Whisnu Sakti Buana have claimed victory in the election in Surabaya held on Wednesday and she has vowed to continue the program she started in her first term.

The pair's campaign team declared that Risma and Whisnu had, as of 4 p.m, garnered 86 percent, beating their rivals Rasiyo and Lucy Kurniasari who collected 14 percent. The campaign held an internal quick count taking samples in 400 polling stations out of 3,936 stations across the city.

There are more than 2 million listed voters in Surabaya according to data from East Java General Elections Commission (KPU).

Risma declared her victory soon after the release of the quick count, expressing her gratitude towards her voters.

"This is not about victory. We along with the Surabaya people are committed to continuing the ongoing development program. God willing we will work hand in hand to improve Surabaya, to be better and more prosperous," she said in her campaign headquarters as quoted by newsportal kompas.com.

This will be Risma's second term as Surabaya mayor. She is the first ever female elected to lead East Java's capital.

She has been lauded for her efforts in cleaning up Surabaya and developing proper public spaces in the city. She is best known for shutting down Southeast Asia's largest prostitution complex, Gang Dolly, last year.

She asked her rival pair, Risma and Whisnu, to leave the campaign behind and join in developing Surabaya.

"We will embrace everyone. This is not about winning or losing, this is the victory of the Surabaya people," Whisnu said. (rin)

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