“I have to consult with Teman Ahok [the Friends of Ahok support group] first. What constraints are they facing and what do they really want?” said Ahok, as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

Before leaving for his hometown in East Belitung, Bangka Belitung, last week for the Idul Fitri holidays, the incumbent had promised to announce his decision on what path to pursue for Jakarta’s 2017 gubernatorial election after his return.

Currently he has two options: remain an independent candidate after Teman Ahok volunteers managed to collect one million Jakarta vote pledges, far exceeding the legal requirement, or accept support offered by three political parties -- Golkar, NasDem and Hanura -- to be nominated as their candidate.

The three parties together have 24 seats in the City Council, an adequate number to nominate Ahok as their gubernatorial candidate.

Ahok has announced that he would run with Heru Budi Hartono, who currently heads Jakarta’s Finance and Assets Management Agency, as his deputy governor candidate.

Ahok said he might announce his decision by the end of the Islamic month of Syawal, with Syawal 1 falling on July 6 when Muslims celebrated the Idul Fitri holiday after the month-long fasting. “It is still Syawal, right?” he said. (bbn)

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