If political parties were corporations, it may be time to red-flag their maneuvers ahead of November's regional head elections.

While it is not yet official, the alliances they are forming to nominate their chosen candidates in some key regions have become so large that they are blocking opportunities for other candidates to run.

The four political parties that formed the winning team behind president-elect Prabowo Subianto - Gerindra, Golkar, the Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) under the Indonesia Onward Coalition (KIM) - have built a cartel-like alliance for their preferred candidates in strategic regions such as Jakarta and East Java. This is making it difficult, if not impossible, for other parties to garner enough support to field opposing tickets.

In Jakarta, former Jakarta governor and losing presidential candidate Anies Baswedan, who is the front runner for the Jakarta race, is on the brink of losing his chance for reelection since he has so far only secured commitment from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

No political parties managed to meet the threshold of 20 seats at the Jakarta legislative council to nominate a ticket in the gubernatorial election. The National Awakening Party (PKB) and the NasDem Party, the other two parties that had supported Anies’ presidential bid with the PKS, have still not made up their mind.

During post-presidential election lobbies, the PKB and NasDem leaders have expressed interest in joining the Prabowo-led KIM alliance for the new government, although they have also voiced informal supports for Anies’ bid for reelection as Jakarta governor.

While having earlier disagreements, especially between Gerindra and Golkar, KIM has shown stronger preference for Golkar politician and former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil to run in Jakarta. This is regardless of the fact that Ridwan is much less popular than Anies and other former governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama of the de facto opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Ridwan is the front-runner in the West Java gubernatorial race, according to polls. But to avoid a potential clash with Gerindra, which expects its candidate Dedi Mulyadi to win, Golkar leaders have become bolder in supporting Ridwan to run in Jakarta instead of West Java.

Ahok is facing a similar problem to Anies. The PDI-P has found difficulties in striking a coalition deal with other parties to be able to fight KIM in the Jakarta election.     

Other PDI-P candidates may be losing their tickets, such as Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini whose popularity can match that of former governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa. KIM has thrown its weight behind Khofifah, while the PDI-P has yet to find a coalition partner to nominate Risma, a former Surabaya mayor.

For the first time the country is experiencing a monopolizing political alliance in regional elections. It is happening because KIM is poised to continue its success in the presidential election in the regional head elections.

Political parties have the right to nominate any candidates that they see fit for the Nov. 27 regional head elections, but they cannot ignore public aspirations. Pursuing their own political interests ahead the people’s wishes constitutes an act of betrayal to the people who voted for them in the Feb. 14 legislative elections.