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AKARTA: Aspiring Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie, who is Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, claims he has received support from 29 provincial branches to take over the leadership of the party.

"Out of 33 provinces, 29 of the provincial branch heads have expressed their readiness to support me at the national congress in Riau," he said Friday during a meeting with party members in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara as quoted by Antara news agency.

On his visit to Kupang, Aburizal was accompanied by former chairman Akbar Tandjung and legislators Marzuki Darusman and Agung Laksono.

Aburizal said his long experience in the Golkar organization could be the "capital" to bring about a better future for the party.

Aburizal will compete with media magnate Surya Paloh, legislator Yuddy Chrisnandi and the youngest son of the late former president Soeharto, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra for Golkar's top post at the national congress, from Oct. 4 to Oct. 7, in Riau.

Jakarta's provincial chapter announced its support of Surya for Golkar's chairmanship Thursday.