A recent picture showing presumptive presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo sitting beside Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has fueled speculation that the two could run as a pair in next year's election.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has yet to name a running mate for Ganjar, but a party member hinted that Mahfud had emerged as a top candidate under the party’s consideration.

"Everything is still in process. Currently, support for Mahfud is growing, but this doesn’t mean that other potential names don’t have a chance,” PDI-P politician Deddy Yevry Sitorus said.

“Ibu Megawati is still communicating with leaders of political parties [in Ganjar’s camp]”, he added, referring to PDI-P matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The comments came after Megawati quashed speculation that the party was considering a merger with the Gerindra Party-led alliance and pairing Ganjar and Gerindra presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto on a single ticket.

Mahfud has several times of late been in close contact with PDI-P politicians. In September, Ganjar and Mahfud had an evening coffee together, and the former posted the picture on his Instagram account.

Mahfud said last week that he had met Megawati recently but that they had only discussed the country’s ideology. He said the PDI-P matriarch had not offered him the VP spot on the party’s presidential ticket.

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