Akhyar Nasution in the Medan Regional Election, How's the Opportunities?

Ilustrasi (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - Nasution's duo, Bobby Nasution and Akhyar Nasution, are considered to have the same power for the Medan Pilkada. Akhyar has a grassroots support base, while President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) son-in-law brings novelty to Medan.

"Both have almost the same opportunity. Akhyar as the Acting Medan Mayor still has many opportunities to maximize his popularity. While Bobby is part of a young figure. He can try to provide new offers to improve Medan City," said political observer Muryanto Amin when contacted by VOI, Sunday, August 9 evening.

The Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), University of North Sumatra (USU), assessed that Akhyar has a better chance of managing grassroots support than Bobby.  However, the party is still being tested to ensure the number of votes for the candidates for mayor/deputy mayor of Medan.

"The era of democracy in the direct elections is a figure. So it is more feasible for a figure than a party, mass organization, or community institution to support it. So even if the party is good, the figure becomes a problem, that's the potential loser. But if the figure is good, the community will consciously identify themselves," he said.

From Muryanto's research, voters in Medan tend to be attracted by the personality of candidates. Only after the Pilkada was over, the public began to highlight the performance of the selected candidate.

The issue of improvement and infrastructure development is considered only a normative issue that usually becomes a "sale" in political contestation. Therefore, the strength of the figures is the main thing.

"Even though (the incumbents who were elected) failed or didn't optimally manage the city government, the local elections people forgot about it, they tend to be apathetic.  That's what I mentioned earlier. People don't really care about institutions, but more into the figures," he continued.

Regarding the political map for the Medan Pilkada, Muryanto said it was uncertain. Because no political party had officially issued a recommendation letter of support for a candidate.

But the PDI-P decision to fire Akhyar Nasution is predicted to break the internal solidarity of the party.

"There will be internal changes to the PDIP. Especially, the pattern of support for each party including support from the grassroots PDIP," he continued.

Towards the candidate registration in early September, Akhyar Nasution moved closer to the Democrats and PKS. Later, Akhyar was fired by PDIP. Meanwhile, Bobby Nasution has secured the support of several political parties. Namely, NasDem, Golkar, PAN, and Gerindra.

Meanwhile, the Democrats emphasized their commitment to PKS to form a coalition in the Medan Pilkada.  These two political parties brought Akhyar Nasution to a duet with PKS cadre Salman Alfarisi.

"So far it's still like yesterday. The Democrats and PKS are still committed to a coalition to carry their candidates in the Medan Regional Election," said Secretary of the DPC of the Medan Democratic Party, Parlindungan Sipahutar when contacted.

According to Parlindungan, Democrats still schedule their time to announce Akhyar Nasution in the Medan Pilkada. Previously, Akhyar met with the elite DPP Democrats in Jakarta. He asked for support in the Medan Pilkada.