akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama joined a high-level meeting of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) at the house of party chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri in Menteng, Central Jakarta, prior to the party’s official announcement on its nomination of a gubernatorial candidate.
At Megawati's house, Ahok joined deputy governor and PDI-P member Djarot Saiful Hidayat and senior party officials such as PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto and lawmakers, as well as the head of the PDI-P’s legal division Trimedya Panjaitan.
Ahok's arrival was a strong signal that the ruling party will nominate Ahok and Djarot as its governor and deputy governor candidates for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.
Ahok declined to speculate on the party’s decision.
"I'm going back to City Hall. The decision is in the hands of the chairwoman [Megawati]. I will wait for the announcement," he told journalists as he left Megawati's house.
Djarot also tried to dampen the speculation saying that the party had not yet reached a final decision.
"Just be patient. I cannot make any comment because there has been no final decision yet," he said.
The PDI-P is scheduled to declare its official nomination of governor and deputy governor candidates to run in next year's election at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the party's central executive board headquarters in Central Jakarta. (rin)
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