Behind The Election Of Mahfud MD And Muhaimin Iskandar: NU Cadres Are Often Targeted In The Presidential Election, Even Though There Is No Guarantee Of Winning

JAKARTA The PDIP decision proposed Mahfud MD as the presidential candidate (candidate) Ganjar Pranowo to further emphasize the struggle for the votes of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).

General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri declared Mahfud MD as a vice presidential candidate at the PDIP DPP Office, Wednesday (18/10/2023). According to a number of observers, Mahfud's appointment is expected to attract votes from NU circles, based in East Java.

According to a political observer who is also the Director of Pascasarana at the University of Muhammadiyah Kupang, Dr. Ahmad Atang, Msi, the figure of Mahfud MD can bridge NU's political interests in the midst of the strained relationship between NU and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

'Mahfud MD is a Nahdliyin resident who is close to kyai and cultural and structural NU scholars. So the presence of Mahfud can bridge NU's political interests, in the midst of the stretched relationship between NU and PKB," said Ahmad Atang in Kupang, quoted by Antara.

Mahfud MD is a figure from Madura, East Java and is known to be close to the kiai. PDIP's decision to propose a former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court to be called to balance PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, Bacawapres Anies Baswedan.

Actually, this is not the first time that the presidential election contestation has been enlivened by figures from the NU circles. For example, in the 2019 presidential election, when Joko Widodo finally took Ma'ruf Amin as a vice presidential candidate. The selection of Ma'ruf Amin cannot be separated from the fact that he is an NU cadre.

Pangi Syarwi Chaniago, a political expert and Executive Director of the Voxpol Center Research and Consulting, sees that the trend of recruiting NU cadres is not unusual. This was done to win victory in East Java, which is the second largest sound barn, after West Java.

NU cadres are often used to fighting are common. That's because NU is the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia. NU can take victory in East Java and Central Java," Pangi said when contacted by VOI.

Contacted separately, Executive Director of the Indonesian Public Institute (IPI) Karyono Wibowo did not deny that these NU cadres were used to attract as many votes as possible.

The 'Pilpres' ended up collecting votes, garnering votes. NU is the largest Islamic organization, has the largest mass base, even though it is central in East Java," said Karyono to VOI.

"These NU residents are big, so to attract their attention by choosing the Vice Presidential Candidate from NU," he added.

The same thing was also expressed by the founder of the KedaiKOPI Survey Institute, Hendri Satrio.

"NU is a clear representation of Islam, meaning that the picture of Islam exists in NU as well, even though there is Muhammadiyah, so NU is the most sought after," said Hendri.

After Ganjar Pranowo took Mahfud MD and Anies Baswedan with Muhaimin Iskandar, now Prabowo Subianto has not announced his Bacawapres.

So far, the chairman of the Gerindra Party is said to have won Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his companion. But Prabowo is not impossible to change his mind after seeing the maneuvers of his two rivals.

Apart from Gibran, Prabowo is also said to have approached Yenny Wahid, who is the daughter of former President Abdurrahman Wahid. Not long ago, Prabowo was also seen holding a meeting with Yenny at his residence in Jakarta on September 6.

A number of observers assessed that the meeting was one of the efforts of the Prabowo camp to gather support for NU residents to choose Prabowo.

But Pangi said that if all presidential candidates recruited NU cadres, it could potentially divide the vote.

If everyone chooses NU, the votes will break. The most important factors in the presidential election are the personality of the presidential and vice presidential candidates, vision and mission, strategy, and programs. That's the most important thing," Pangi continued.

He then gave an example of how Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was able to win the 2004 presidential election even though he was not paired with NU cadres. In the second round, SBY-Jusuf Kalla's pair could beat Megawati Soekarno Putri-Hasyim Muzadi.

"In the 2004 presidential election there was an empirical factor that made SBY win, even though he and JK did not have a pure NU label," he explained.

Pangi Syarwi Chaniago also expressed the same thing. He said NU cadres were not the only guarantee of victory in the presidential election.

NU voters are becoming more independent now. Every decision is not necessarily followed by NU residents, because there is a preference for themselves. So don't be proud just yet. For example, cultural NU chooses A or B, it's not necessarily followed by its citizens," said Pangi ending.