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PDI-P rebuffs Ahok's claims he has Mega's backing
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Former Blitar mayor Djarot Saiful Hidayat (right) attends his inauguration as Jakarta deputy governor along with Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama (center) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri. (JP/Awo Seto Wardhana )
T
he Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) insists it has not yet decided to support Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat in next year's gubernatorial election, countering Ahok's claims on Wednesday that party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri had agreed to back him.
PDI-P Central Executive Board (DPP) member Andreas Pareira said that on Wednesday, Megawati had met Ahok at the DPP office in a meeting initiated by the governor. In the meeting, Andreas said, Ahok expressed his hope to obtain the PDI-P’s endorsement, stressing that he had abandoned his previous plan to stand on an independent ticket.
On Independence Day, Ahok told journalists that Mega had chosen him and PDI-P cadre Djarot Saiful Hidayat to stand on the party's ticket for the 2017 gubernatorial election.
“In a nutshell, Ibu Mega still wants me and Djarot to run - she agrees,” he said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday evening.
But Andreas said the party's decision was not a foregone conclusion. "When we've reached a conclusion, it will be us who declare it. We will declare it at the right moment," Andreas told thejakartapost.com on Thursday.
Members of the ruling party in Jakarta are split; many are loathe to back Ahok, but the party is known to generally accept the wishes of Megawati.
