A

pparently aware that the party’s only chance of taking the reins of power in the capital may lie in placing incumbent Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on its ticket, senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) figures look increasingly keen on the idea.

The PDI-P’s Jakarta chapter has recently been intimating ever more clearly its interest in naming Ahok the party’s candidate for the 2017 gubernatorial election, pairing him with incumbent Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

A recent internal survey conducted by the PDI-P to gauge the popularity of potential candidates found that Ahok remained the most well-liked candidate among party members.

“A number of figures proved popular among the rank and file. However, the most rational decision is to continue endorsing the incumbent ticket,” PDI-P politician Charles Honoris said on Tuesday. “They still hold the highest electability rating at 82.8 percent.”

The pair, he added, were particularly popular among PDI-P members and supporters in North and West Jakarta.

In recent days, banners promoting the Ahok-Djarot ticket have started to pop up in a number of Jakarta neighborhoods.

The banners, placed by a group calling itself Relawan Ahok-Djarot (Volunteers for Ahok-Djarot), point to the incumbents’ track record of success in running the city.

The banners have appeared amid unconfirmed rumors that Heru Budi Purnama, a senior city official who had been touted as Ahok’s running mate if the latter decided to run on an independent ticket, has dropped out of the race, rumors Heru has denied.

The PDI-P’s latest move follows quickly on the heels of the party’s announcement that it will form a coalition with the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Gerindra Party to stop Ahok from being re-elected for the 2017-2022 term.

The PDI-P, the largest party on the City Council, has stepped up its overtures to Gerindra and the PKS and claims that executives from both parties have responded positively.

In response to the PDI-P’s apparent attempted rapprochement, meanwhile, Ahok reiterated his intention to stand as an independent candidate, but did say he was open to support from any party.

“Since the beginning of the reform era, I have never been a PDI-P member. But it is clear that I am a Megawati man,” Ahok said on Tuesday, referring to PDI-P chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Ahok said that in his latest meeting with Megawati, the party matron praised his cooperation with Djarot.

“Bu Mega said: ‘You’re good together’, to which I responded: ‘You could say that’,” Ahok said on Tuesday.

Djarot meanwhile stated he would continue to toe the party line.

“It’s fine if Ahok wants to run in the election independently, but I have made my decision. I have to stand by my party,” he said on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, Gembong Warsono, chairman of the PDI-P’s Jakarta gubernatorial candidate selection team, said that the PDI-P could not in any case nominate Ahok since he had yet to register with the selection team.

“We cannot endorse those who don’t register with the party,” said Gembong.

As prospective candidates, the PDI-P has so far floated the names of popular politicians like Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini and Djarot.

Gerindra, meanwhile, has gone public with three names: businessman Sandiaga Uno, former Jakarta military commander Lt. Gen. (ret) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and lawyer and former law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

As of Tuesday, Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) had succeeded in collecting 945,894 of a targeted million ID cards in support of Ahok’s expected independent bid.