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NasDem supporters jump ship to Anies-Sandiaga camp
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Collecting support -- Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan explains his program during a campaign event in Pademangan, Jakarta, on Nov.18. (Antara/M.Agung Rajasa)
D
ozens of people claiming to be members of the NasDem Party announced on Tuesday their support of the Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno pair for the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election, defying the party's decision to support the incumbent pair.
The people, who claimed to be registered members of NasDem's East Jakarta chapter, declared their support at the Anies-Sandiaga campaign headquarters in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, witnessed by businessman-cum-politician Sandiaga, who also serves as an executive of the Gerindra Party, the country's third-largest political party.
After the announcement, the supporters took off their red-checkered shirts, an iconic symbol of support for Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat, tribunnews.com reported.
NasDem, a member of the ruling coalition, has nominated the Ahok-Djarot pair as its candidates for the Jakarta gubernatorial election in February 2017, in support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the country's largest party and leader of the ruling coalition.
(Read also: Ahok, Djarot gather volunteers to boost electability)
Doubts, however, have reportedly loomed among factions within NasDem after a series of huge protests emerged in Jakarta to push for Ahok's criminal prosecution for alleged blasphemy.
When asked about the motive behind his decision to jump ship, Saefudin, who leads NasDem's Jatinegara branch, said the move represented the wishes of the party's grassroots. (hwa)
