As Ahok remains the candidate to beat in the upcoming election, attention has turned to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which controls a majority of seats at the City Council.

The PDI-P is expected to decide who it will nominate in the 2017 election during a party meeting on Tuesday.

In the past few months, the party has sent mixed signals about whether it would join other political parties that have officially backed Ahok’s reelection bid, or endorse popular Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini, who is also a party member.

Risma previously publicly rejected the PDI-P’s offer and said she was needed more in Surabaya.

However, Risma recently hinted that she may take up the offer to run in Jakarta, which could pose a serious threat to Ahok’s reelection bid.

On Monday, Risma welcomed a group dubbed Karisma — an abbreviation of Indonesian words meaning “We Want Risma to Go to Jakarta” — at Surabaya City Hall.

During the meeting, Risma said that although she did not want a higher position in government, she “could not say no to God’s will”.

“I never dreamed of being a mayor or governor because it carries a very serious responsibility. However, sometimes we can’t avoid that,” she said. “For example, I refused to be Surabaya mayor, but suddenly I was ordered to [participate in the Surabaya election]”.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said on Monday that any candidates nominated by the party would go through an internal selection process.

“Every stage has been conducted in a very systematic way starting with a screening, political mapping, campaign manager training, witness training and school for regional head candidates,” Hasto said in a statement.

Both Risma and Ahok’s deputy Djarot Saiful Hidayat, also a PDI-P politician, recently undertook training for regional head candidates organized by the party’s central board. Ahok turned down an invitation to participate.

The PDI-P has come up with three options for the Jakarta gubernatorial election: supporting Ahok in his reelection bid, nominating its own member or supporting a candidate that goes through the party’s selection process.

Since taking over the administration from then Jakarta governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in November 2014, Ahok has led the city with his signature traits of being bold and brash — a style loved by his supporters for bringing about change in the city administration.

Having won support from the Golkar Party, NasDem Party and Hanura Party, Ahok looks set to be reelected, but the arrival of Risma could result in a very tight race.

The latest poll released by Poltracking Indonesia revealed that Risma could pose a serious threat to Ahok as her electability rating has edged closer to that of Ahok. In a head-to-head scenario of Ahok versus Risma, the survey showed that the governor was favored by 44.10 percent of respondents, while the mayor was favored by 33.85 percent.

Other political parties that have also spoken highly of Risma have been waiting to see if the PDI-P gives its support to Risma. The United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), Democratic Party and National Mandate Party (PAN) are also set to announce a decision on Tuesday.

The PPP has said the four parties were likely to form a new axis to challenge Ahok.

The Gerindra Party, which previously named Sandiaga Uno as its candidate, now says the businessman will become a second option if it strikes a deal with the PDI-P.

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