The Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM), Prabowo’s electoral alliance that was led by his own Gerindra Party, intends to extend its political partnership and become a “permanent coalition” for regional elections in a bid to ensure regional administrations support the incoming central government.

But KIM members now appear on course to part ways and back different candidate pairs in several regions such as Banten despite successfully joining hands in the East Java and North Sumatra gubernatorial races.

Gerindra unveiled last week that it would endorse its own politician Andra Soni to run for Banten governor with House of Representatives lawmaker Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah from the rival Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as his running mate.

The announcement came after Gerindra previously offered to pair Andra with fellow KIM member Golkar politician and former South Tangerang mayor Airin Rachmi Diany.

Gerindra executive Habiburokhman claimed that his party arrived at the decision after Golkar disagreed with Gerindra's proposal to back Airin and Andra on a joint ticket.

“The fact that each region has its own set of characteristics and problems cannot be denied. In this situation, political parties can't force each other [to support each other’s cause]. The important thing is, even if we are not together, we compete fairly," Habiburokhman said.