The party leaders and other notable political figures have visited several election hotspots both with and without the presidential candidates they support, including visits to rival camps, but analysts doubt these moves are effective at snatching supporters from rivals.

Among the first to go on the campaign trail was Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, who accompanied the party’s presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo at a campaign event in Bandung, West Java on Jan. 21.

According to a poll in September from pollster Poltracking, West Java remained a stronghold for Ganjar’s rival Prabowo Subianto and his Gerindra Party, which garnered the most votes during the 2019 election.

During the event, Megawati likened the Feb. 14 election to the founding fathers’ struggle for independence, suggesting to the thousands of attendants donning red attributes, the party’s color, that voting for Ganjar-Mahfud MD would best align with the country’s vision of independence.

“When you vote, will you remain faithful to your principles, or will you take money instead? If you’re true [to your beliefs], then you will ensure that candidate number three wins!” the PDI-P matriarch said, referring to the Ganjar-Mahfud ballot number.

Megawati was initially slated to appear with Ganjar at more campaign rallies, including at Maimun Palace in Medan, North Sumatra on Sunday. However, she did not attend the event.