T

ANGERANG: After toying with the idea of running in the 2012 Jakarta gubernatorial election, former actor and deputy regent of Tangerang Rano Karno says he is ready to join the ticket of incumbent Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah in the Banten gubernatorial poll slated for October.

He said Atut had approached him five months ago asking him to become his deputy.

“Now I am still active as Tangerang deputy regent and I am also waiting for approval from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). But I have been given the go-ahead by the Tangerang regent to run in the election,” Rano said as quoted by kompas.com.

Separately, Atut said she had received a recommendation from the central board of the PDI-P giving her permission to take Rano as her running mate.

Atut has said that she has won support from a coalition of eight political parties, including the Golkar Party, the PDI-P, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Indonesian Nahdlatul Ulama United Party (PPNUI), the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) and the Regional Unity Party (PPD), representing 38 of 85 seats at the Banten legislative council.