West Java branch NasDem Party central executive board chairman Saan Mustofa said the party had agreed to endorse Ridwan, popularly known as Kang Emil, due to his persistence in upholding tolerance.

“There is no doubt about Kang Emil’s commitment to pluralism and leadership, not to mention that he is visionary, creative and innovative,” Saan told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Kang Emil is quite popular among young people, particularly in West Java’s capital city, Bandung, due to his modern approaches to reaching people through social media, such as Twitter. He is also an active user of Instagram and often posts photos with jokes in the captions. Many people praised his efforts to turn several unattractive places and spots in Bandung into parks.

Last year, Ridwan played down rumors that said he would join the Jakarta gubernatorial race. He said he wanted to complete his mandate as the Bandung mayor through 2018, a decision that was widely appreciated by Bandung citizens.

His decision to stay may boost his popularity and cement his image as a politician who is not hungry for power, which will eventually pave his way to win West Java’s top post.

“Of course we need to build a coalition. I’m sure that Kang Emil has established relations with other parties,” Saan said. (ebf)

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