Addressing members at all levels on Tuesday, Megawati reiterated her prerogative to nominate a presidential candidate as she warned party members who overstepped her authority they would face expulsion.

Megawati said that she preferred having members who are rebels over traitors.

“Whoever is making these maneuvers can see themselves out. There won’t be any putting your eggs in two or three baskets when you’re in the PDI-P,” Megawati told a three-day PDI-P national meeting that started on Tuesday.

She did not mention any names, but speculation was rife that it was directed at popular Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who attended the event along with fellow party members, including President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and House of Representatives Speaker, and Megawati’s daughter, Puan Maharani.

Ganjar, who, like Jokowi, is not regarded as part of the party establishment, has seen his popularity rising, making other party members uncomfortable as he could rival Puan who has recorded low electability ratings over several surveys.

Read also: Ganjar’s popularity irks PDI-P elites

Tensions are believed to have once again been brewing after Jokowi, in a rally hosted by his biggest supporter group, Projo, last month, hinted at his support for a particular presidential candidate he said was also present in the rally. Jokowi did not mention Ganjar by name but speculation was rife that the person in question was Ganjar, given that he was the only prospective candidate attending the rally. Ganjar's name was also cheered several times by Jokowi's supporters during the rally.

Following the rally, talk of a rocky rapport between Jokowi and Megawati also reemerged after Megawati skipped a national Pancasila Day event hosted by Jokowi – held to celebrate the ideology that her father Sukarno instilled in the national conscience. The party, however, has insisted that all is well between Megawati, Jokowi and Ganjar.

On the sidelines of Tuesday’s meeting, Puan denied that Megawati's remarks were leveled at Ganjar, insisting instead they were conveyed to all members.

"As of today, we all are still gathering with all the regional heads, governors, House members and party executives,” Puan told reporters.

Last week, Ganjar was named by the NasDem Party – the nation's fourth-largest party and a member of the ruling coalition supporting Jokowi – as one of its three potential presidential nominees, along with Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Andika Perkasa. None of them are party flag bearers and the NasDems, who control 10 percent of House seats, will need to partner with another party to be able to nominate a candidate.

Read also: NasDem names Anies, Andika, Ganjar key nominees for 2024 presidential race

In the Tuesday session, the 75-year-old PDI-P leader said that party members raising issues over forming a coalition without her consent would also face the same sanction.

"If there are still PDI-P's members talking about coalition, [she or he] is out. They don't understand our state system," Megawati said, adding that any alliance formed should not be based on intention toward future power-sharing after the election.

"We have a presidential system, not a parliamentary one," she said. "[Usual practice is that] if anyone wins the majority and there are opposition parties who want to join [the camp], there is usually a calculation of how many votes they have garnered or how many [House] seats they have secured.”

The PDI-P is the only party that can nominate a presidential candidate without forming a coalition.

Read also: Jokowi tells supporters to be patient, but hints at Ganjar for 2024 race

The party is hosting its national meeting from Tuesday to Thursday, after it was delayed last year due to the pandemic. Party leaders from its central and regional boards are gathering and discussing several strategic issues and ways to consolidate the membership.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said the discussions focused on strategy to win the 2024 general election, such as preparing a vision and mission for whichever presidential and vice-presidential candidates the party might nominate.

Hasto said that Megawati would unveil her choices after careful contemplation.

"Regarding the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, the party chairwoman has emphasized that she is still considering and contemplating. Eventually at the right moment, she will reveal [her choices],” he said. “When will that be? It could be in three months, it could be in five months, it could be in a few days.”