'€œI'€™m optimistic [about winning the election), insya Allah (God willing), to make a more prosperous Central Java society into a reality,'€ he said after casting his vote in Semarang on Sunday.

Accompanied by his wife, Sri Suharti, the governor arrived at polling station TPS 2 in Gajahmungkur sub-district, Semarang, at around 8 a.m. local time.

During his first five-year term, Bibit said, he had tried to do his best to develop Central Java and to bring about a more prosperous society.

'€œDuring the last five years, I have worked hard for the people. Whether this has brought change, it'€™s up to the people to decide. I leave it to the people who will cast a vote,'€ he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Bibit said he was prepared to accept the result of the election. Still, he was hopeful that running in the election with deputy governor candidate Sudijono Sastroatmodjo, he would be victorious.

'€œI'€™m ready for any possibility. But I'€™m optimistic and will remain so. Insya Allah, only one round of voting will be carried out,'€ he said.

Bibit-Sudijono is running against two other tickets -- Ganjar Pranowo-Heru Sudjatmoko and Hadi Prabowo-Don Murdono -- to win votes from the province's 27.4 million voters. The Bibit-Sudijono ticket is backed by a coalition of the Democratic Party, the National Awakening Party (PAN) and the Golkar Party.

The Central Java General Elections Commission (KPUD) is scheduled to start vote counting at 3 p.m. local time. The election result will be announced on June 4. (asw/ebf)

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