Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known by his initials BTP, has resigned as president commissioner of state-owned oil and gas holding company PT Pertamina in order to campaign for presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

“I declare my support and am campaigning for presidential candidate pair Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD,” Basuki posted to his Instagram account @basukibtp, along with a photo of his resignation letter.

Basuki, also known as “Ahok”, said he decided to resign so the people would not be confused about his political stance.

Previously a close associate of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the PDI-P politician’s departure follows in the footsteps of others who supported Jokowi’s reelection bid in 2019 as the incumbent continues to demonstrate his tacit support for rival Prabowo Subianto amid his growing rift with the ruling party.

Instead, Basuki and other former supporters of the President have thrown their weight behind Ganjar and his running mate Mahfud MD, the PDI-P ticket chosen directly by party matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Earlier in January, Abdi “Abdee” Negara Nurdin, the lead guitarist of rock band Slank, resigned as an independent commissioner at state-owned telecommunications firm PT Telkomsel to join his band mates in campaigning for Ganjar.

“We need to keep democracy alive. For us, the ones who fit that role are Ganjar and Mahfud,” Abdee said at the time.

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