PDI-P executive Puan Maharani has said that neither Golkar's Ridwan nor the Democrats' Agus were now being considered as Ganjar's running mate, as their parties had both pledged to back Gerindra chair Prabowo's presidential bid.
An executive of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has said that former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil of the Golkar Party and Democratic Party chair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, better known by his initials “AHY”, had lost their shot at joining presumptive nominee Ganjar Pranowo on the party ticket.
The reason given is the same for both: The politicians’ respective parties had thrown their support behind the Gerindra Party-led Onward Indonesia Coalition backing the presidential bid of Gerindra chair Prabowo Subianto.
"Initially, Mas [Mr.] AHY appeared on [PDI-P's radar]. But because the Democrats have decided to [support] Prabowo, of course it is no longer possible” for Agus to be Ganjar’s running mate, PDI-P executive Puan Maharani said on Monday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Puan, who is the daughter and heir apparent of PDI-P matron Megawati Soekarnoputri, made the statement after attending as a guest at a Nahdlatul Ulama event, according to the report.
"And the same goes with Ridwan. He is a member of Golkar, which already supports Prabowo," she said, as quoted by Tribunnews.com.
Previously, both Ridwan and Agus were on Megawati’s list of potential vice presidential candidates to run as Ganjar's running mate in next year’s election when the list was publicly revealed in June.
At that time, Golkar still led the three-way United Indonesia Coalition (KIB), the first electoral alliance formed in view of the 2024 election, while the Democrats were part of the camp backing opposition figurehead Anies Baswedan.
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