Callistasia Anggun Wijaya

Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat has warned Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama that running as an independent gubernatorial candidate is a risky move.

"I’ve told Ahok to be careful. The independent track is fragile," Djarot said at City Hall on Tuesday.

Ahok announced his decision to run as an independent candidate on Monday and picked Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board (BPKAD) head Heru Budi Hartono as his deputy candidate in response to the demands of the Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) volunteer group.

Ahok is aware of the risks because if Teman Ahok fails to collect the required number of ID-backed signatures by June, he will not be able to participate in the 2017 gubernatorial election, said Djarot. 

Djarot added that Ahok's challenges would not end with an election win and that he would face various hurdles on account of a lack of formal support from members of the City Council.

Djarot, who is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) executive board, said that his party would not support Ahok as an independent candidate.

Djarot is among PDI-P politicians who met with the party’s chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, at her house on Monday night to discuss, among others things, the Jakarta gubernatorial election. Other politicians included PDI-P deputy secretary-general Eriko Sotarduga and City Council speaker Prasetio Edi Marsudi.

Djarot did not say whether Megawati had nominated him as the party’s gubernatorial candidate, but he said: "Ibu Megawati told me to focus on my work. It hasn’t been decided whether I will be nominated."

Separately, Prasetio said the party had several potential candidates, including Djarot, PDI-P Jakarta chapter head Boy Sadikin, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo. (bbn)

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