All three of the nation’s presidential hopefuls have in recent days visited East Java, where they met with important figures and grassroots volunteers in a bid to lure voters from the country’s second most populous province, which is seen as a key battleground in next year's election.

Presumptive nominees Anies Baswedan, whose presidential bid is backed by the pro-government NasDem Party and National Awakening Party (PKB), as well as the opposition Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), both went to East Java’s capital Surabaya over the weekend.

In Surabaya, Anies officiated the launch of a volunteer center located in the Ndresmo area, home to dozens of historic Islamic boarding schools.

Meanwhile, Ganjar, aside from greeting his supporters during a morning run on Sunday, met with undisclosed “special figures” during his trip to Surabaya. This was according to a statement made by PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto on Saturday, which analysts believe referred to East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who is affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Read also: Megawati calls for resolute fight amid attempt to derail Ganjar’s presidential bid

Days before Anies and Ganjar visited East Java, Gerindra Party patron and presumptive presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto also made his way to the province. Gerindra secretary-general Ahmad Muzani said last week that Prabowo was in East Java to meet with “local figures” in his search for a running mate.

Home to some 41 million Indonesians, East Java is considered a battleground province in the leadup to the February polls, and NU – the country’s largest Muslim organization – has significant sway in the province.

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