H

is dramatic defeat in the Jakarta gubernatorial election in April last year was certainly not the end of Djarot Saiful Hidayat’s political career, with the former Jakarta governor now being touted as a gubernatorial candidate in North Sumatra.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has officially nominated Djarot as its candidate. Party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to announce his candidacy on Jan. 7, a day before the General Elections Commission (KPU) opens registration for gubernatorial candidates.

PDI-P currently holds only 16 legislative seats in the North Sumatra regional council, meaning that it will have to form a coalition with another party to field him in the race. According to the law, a party or an alliance of parties must control at least 20 percent of the total number of seats in the regional council to nominate a candidate.

If the party manages to get the support of another party, Djarot will challenge Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Edy Rahmayadi, who is backed by the Gerindra Party, the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Megawati said she was confident Djarot would fulfill President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s pledge to make North Sumatra a major economic center, given its strategic location.

“I’ve been looking for a proper figure because as I see it, the province has no strong figure. Then I realized I just forgot a good and very serious cadre who is close to me,” Megawati said on Thursday.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said Djarot had served in a number of leadership roles, including mayor of Blitar in East Java and Jakarta governor.

He added that people in North Sumatra were open to newcomers. “The people in the province are open-minded because most of them are basically travelers.”

The PDI-P executive said the party had intensely communicated with National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party’s (PKPI) chairman AM Hendropriyono to form a coalition.

“The communication [with the party leaders] went well. We are optimistic that we can fulfill the requirements,” Hasto said.

Also on Thursday, the PDI-P declared support for Jhon Wempi Watepo, who became Jayawijaya regent in 2008, and running mate Habel Melkias Suwae, a Jayapura regent, as candidates for the election in Papua.

It has to form a coalition with the Gerindra Party if they want to field their candidates.

The rest of the political parties in Papua are supporting Governor Lukas Enembe.

Meanwhile, the PDI-P has yet to decide which candidates it will support in West and Central Java.

The party said it was considering pairing Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil with former West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan. “We’re finalizing the decision,” said PDI-P executive Hendrawan Supratikno.

Ridwan has already secured support from the NasDem Party, Hanura Party, the United Development Party (PPP) and the PKB.

Other parties are also gearing up for the elections.

In Bali, the gubernatorial election will most likely be a tussle between I Wayan Koster/Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati and Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra/I Ketut Sudikerta.

I Wayan and Tjokorda are endorsed by the PDI-P, the biggest party on the island, that has 24 out of 55 legislative seats. Rai Mantra and Sudikerta are backed by Golkar, Democratic Party, Gerindra and NasDem, PKS and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).(ami)