Presumptive presidential candidate and opposition figurehead Anies Baswedan paid a visit to a family member of Muhaimin Iskandar, chair of the country’s largest Muslim party the National Awakening Party (PKB), amid rumors of the party possibly switching sides from Prabowo Subianto's camp.

Accompanied by his wife Fery Farhati, Anies, who announced his presidential bid last year, paid a visit to Muhaimin’s mother Muhassonah Hasbullah at her private residence in Jombang, East Java, on Thursday as part of his half-day tour to prominent Muslim figures in the province.

"Thank God, we are very grateful to be able to get here," Anies was quoted as saying in his written statement.

During their brief meeting, Anies asked for Muhassonah’s blessing for his intention to contest next year’s presidential race, which was welcomed by the latter who recited prayers in Arabic.

The unexpected visit came amid swirling rumors that the PKB will shift its alliance from Prabowo’s Gerindra Party-led Indonesia Onward Coalition to Anies’ camp.

Despite being one of two founding members of a political alliance backing Prabowo, the PKB, which has been pushing for its chairman Muhaimin to run as Prabowo’s running mate, has found its bargaining power weakened after the Golkar Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) joined the grouping earlier this month.

Golkar, the second-largest party in the legislature, has been vying to nominate its leader Airlangga Hartarto as Prabowo’s running mate, while PAN has put forth State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir, whose family was a major donor to both of Jokowi’s presidential campaigns.

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