To Put the Pilkada Dispute to an End, Andika-Hendi Choose Reconciliation for Central Java

JAKARTA – Candidate Pair for Governor and Deputy Governor of Central Java Number 2, Andika Perkasa and Hendrar Prihadi (Andika-Hendi), have officially withdrawn their lawsuit against the results of the 2024 Central Java (Jateng) Pilkada at the Constitutional Court (MK). This decision was taken to maintain the conduciveness of the Central Java community.

"This petition is withdrawn in order to maintain the conduciveness of the community in Central Java, because the Central Java community loves harmony, peace, and togetherness," said Andika-Hendi's attorney, Mulyadi Marks Phillian, in a follow-up hearing at the Constitutional Court, Monday, January 20.

Mulyadi said that the letter of withdrawal of the case had been signed by Andika-Hendi on January 13, 2024. They hope that this step can end the potential for division and recreate the spirit of unity in Central Java.

"Hopefully this will be the first step to end the division and reunite to build Central Java," added Mulyadi.

Previously, the pair supported by the PDI Perjuangan had filed a lawsuit to dispute the results of the 2024 Central Java Pilkada to the Constitutional Court. In the first hearing on January 9, 2024, the Andika-Hendi camp read out the petitum and arguments that were the basis for their petition.

The lawsuit asked the Constitutional Court to annul the Central Java KPU Decree Number 200 of 2024 regarding the determination of the Pilkada results, especially regarding the vote acquisition of candidate pair number 2, Ahmad Luthfi and Taj Yasin.

Andika-Hendi also asked the Constitutional Court to disqualify the Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin pair as the winner of the Pilkada and to determine them as the elected candidates for governor and deputy governor of Central Java.

In their lawsuit, the Andika-Hendi camp raised allegations of structured, systematic, and massive (TSM) violations during the 2024 Central Java Pilkada. They argued that there were actions planned to benefit the Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin pair.

One of the highlights is the transfer of positions within the National Police, especially the position of Kapolres in 15 districts/cities in Central Java, which is considered to be correlated with the high vote acquisition of Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin.

In addition, the Andika-Hendi camp accused the village head of intimidation during the campaign period. The mode used was a summons by the police and consolidation of village heads through the Village Head Association (PKD) which allegedly directed support to a certain pair.

With the withdrawal of this lawsuit, Andika-Hendi hopes that the situation in Central Java will remain conducive and no longer be colored by division due to the Pilkada. "Let's build Central Java together," concluded Mulyadi.