Bobby Nasution Anchored In Gerindra To Avoid Twin Sun

Bobby Nasution decided to join the Gerindra Party and register as a candidate for Governor of North Sumatra. (X/@bobbynasution_)

JAKARTA Bobby Nasution finally decided to join the Gerindra Party. Not only that, he was also confirmed to register himself as a candidate for Governor of North Sumatra. Will President Joko Widodo and the elected vice president Gibran Rakabuming Raka follow Bobby's steps?

The Mayor of Medan finally decided to change course from PDIP cadres to Gerindra cadres, as he announced on Monday (20/5/2024). Not only joining the party led by the elected president Prabowo Subianto, Bobby also intends to run as the North Sumatra Governor in the 2024 Regional Head Election.

"Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I have officially become a Gerindra cadre and also registered as a bicalon for the Governor of North Sumatra from the Gerindra Party," wrote Bobby on his X account.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, saya telah resmi menjadi kader Gerindra dan juga turut mendaftar sebagai bacalon Gubernur Sumatera Utara dari Partai Gerindra.Alhamdulillah langsung diterima oleh Ketua DPD (Gerindra) Sumatera Utara, Bapak Gus Irawan Pasaribu. Terima kasih sambutan… pic.twitter.com/AhfI900FaM

— Bobby Nasution (@bobbynasution_) May 21, 2024

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I have officially become a Gerindra cadre and also registered as a bicalon for the Governor of North Sumatra from the Gerindra Party. Alhamdulillah, it was immediately received by the Chairman of the North Sumatra DPD (Gerindra), Mr. Gus Irawan Pasaribu. Thank you for the welcome... pic.twitter.com/AhfI900 FAM

"Alhamdulillah, it was immediately received by the Chairman of the North Sumatra DPD (Gerindra), Mr. Gus Irawan Pasaribu. Thank you for the warm welcome from the Gerindra DPD North Sumatra for accepting me to fight together in advancing North Sumatra.."

President Jokowi's son-in-law's move has led to pros and cons. On the one hand, Bobby is increasingly officially labeled a traitor, but on the other hand this is a realistic step for the 32-year-old man, who insisted on advancing in the North Sumatra gubernatorial election later this year.

Bobby became known to the public when he married Jokowi's daughter, Kahiyang Ayu, on November 8, 2017 in Solo, Central Java. But he was not a politician at that time. The man who was born on July 5, 1991 is better known as a cafe businessman and property entrepreneur.

He started his journey in the world of politics when he registered with PDIP as a candidate for Mayor of Medan in the 2020 Pilkada. Four years later, Bobby was branded like a peanut forgetting his skin. He left the bull party that had raised his name.

Bobby's relationship with PDIP has been going on since before the 2024 General Election. The reason is because Jokowi, Bobby's father-in-law, does not support Ganjar Pranowo as a presidential candidate promoted by PDIP. The former mayor of Solo and his family prefer to support Prabowo Subianto who is paired with Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

The strained relationship between Jokowi's family, including Bobby, continues until now. Even when Kahiyang's husband intended to run in the North Sumatra Pilgub, his wish was rejected by PDIP.

According to a political observer from Al Azhar University Indonesia, Andriadi Achmad, Bobby Nasution's position was quite dilemmatic after he left PDIP. Because as one of the strong candidates in the 2024 North Sumatra gubernatorial election, he does not yet have a KTA political party, of course, political parties as supporting ships to sail in the 2024 North Sumatra regional elections.

Although he had joined the Golkar Party, this was hindered by the presence of Musa Rajeksah or Ijeck who is currently the Chairman of the North Sumatra Golkar Party DPD and the former Deputy Governor of North Sumatra 2018-2023 who had already received tickets and assignments from the Golkar party to fight in the 2024 North Sumatra Pilkada.

"Of course Bobby's presence in the Golkar party is like two twin suns. To avoid this, in the end, Bobby Nasution's best choice was to join the Gerinda party and become the Gubernatorial Candidate for the Gerinda Party in the 2024 North Sumatra Pilkada," Andriadi told VOI.

The owner of the full name Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution is believed to be a strong challenger in the North Sumatra gubernatorial election. Andriadi said his status as Jokowi's son-in-law could still boost Bobby's chance, apart from his position as Mayor of Medan.

"If you see Bobby Nasution's chance to be strong enough, the coattail effect as Jokowi's son-in-law is still attached," said Andriadi again.

However, he noted, Bobby Nasution will face a tough challenge from Edy Rahmayadi, the Governor of North Sumatra for the 2018-2023 period. He returned to running with PDIP as his political vehicle.

"If Edy Rahmayadi is a former Governor of North Sumatra 2018 - 2023, he will get a ticket in the 2024 North Sumatra Pilkada. So Edy Rahmayadi is Bobby Nasution's tough opponent," he explained.

Former Governor of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi has taken the registration form for a candidate for governor at the North Sumatra PDIP DPD to fight in the 2024 Pilkada. The form has been taken by Edy through representatives.

"Edy Rahmayadi was represented by the team to take the registration form yesterday (Saturday 20 April 2024) at the North Sumatra PDIP Office," said Deputy Chairperson of the North Sumatra PDIP DPD, Aswan Jaya, on April 21, 2024, reported by Antara.