T

he United Development Party (PPP) is caught in a new tangle after the government handed party leadership to a former chairman convicted in a graft case to end leadership dualism.

The Law and Human Rights Ministry has issued a decree to recognize the party management established during a congress in Bandung in 2011 that saw Suryadharma Ali elected as chairman. The former religious affairs minister, however, is currently behind bars after being convicted of haj funds embezzlement.

The party'€™s camp led by Djan Faridz said on Thursday it planned to sue the government over the decree, adding that the decision had worsened the PPP'€™s crisis.

'€œWhenever there'€™s an abuse of power, it should be highlighted with a lawsuit. We warned the government about this, so we will again take this case to court,'€ said Djan'€™s supporter Dimyati Natakusumah, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Directly appointed by Suryadharma as his successor, Djan earlier challenged a ministerial decree that appointed rival camp leader Muhammad Romahurmuziy as the legitimate chairman.

Romahurmuziy earned the government'€™s support after pledging to support President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo.

Djan later won the case at the Supreme Court, which revoked the ministerial decree.

The camp is dissatisfied with the new decree because in the absence of Suryadharma, Romahurmuziy, the party'€™s Bandung committee secretary-general, may take control of the party.