Semarang Mayor Mbak Ita Claims Megawati Instruction To Advance Again In The 2024 Pilkada

Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu when taking the registration form for the prospective mayor at the PDI-P DPC Office in Semarang City, Saturday (11/5/2024). (ANTARA/Zuhdiar Laeis)

SemarANG - Mayor of Semarang Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu (Mbak Ita) admitted that he received instructions from PDI-P General Chair Megawati Soekarnoputri to run again in the 2024 Semarang City Regional Head Election (Pilkada) contestation.

"Indeed, at first I didn't (will, ed.) run because there are children (who don't want, red) I don't run," said Ita, Hevearita's nickname, in Semarang as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 11.

Accompanied by his only son, Faras Razin Pradana or Juon, Ita, Hevearita's nickname visited the Semarang City PDIP DPC Office, Saturday, to take a registration form for a candidate for mayor.

Ita was met directly by the Secretary of the PDIP DPC Kadarlusman when taking the registration form and signing some of the required files.

"On the instructions or dawuh Ibu Ketum (Mega, ed.), I can run again as one of the female cadres in PDIP so that bismillah," he said.

He has also asked permission from his son who finally agreed to be able to move forward for the next five years as Mayor of Semarang.

"This is my spirit. Especially because there have been instructions and complaints from Mrs. Ketum and party seniors, both in the DPP, DPD, and DPC PDIP. Of course, this is a mandate that must be done," he said.

Not to forget, Ita also expressed her gratitude to Megawati, always the general chairman, all elements of society, including business actors, community leaders, LPMK, to lower-level bull cadres who have provided support, enthusiasm, and encouragement to be able to move forward again.

As a female cadre, she admitted, Megawati always emphasized that she always pays attention to various problems, especially food security, poverty, stunting, and gender equality.

"There is still a lot of homework (homework) anymore, and of course in Semarang it is flooded. The most important thing is how more cadres go down to the community, not only in Semarang City. All cadres are instructed to prosper their respective regions," he said.

Ita also fully submits the selection process to political parties, starting from screening, screening, until later who will be the candidate pair to be promoted by PDIP.

"I am the most important as a cadre of course the first (registration) to PDIP. Then, hand over the parties DPP, DPD, and DPC regarding the figures of the mayor and deputy mayor. How is the development, there could be a coalition or something," he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Semarang City PDIP DPC Kadarlusman said that so far 12 people have taken the registration form for candidates for mayor and deputy mayor of Semarang.

"Initially there were four (candidates, ed.) mayors, but today there are changes. Because Mas Supriyadi, who originally took the mayor's form, returned the form and changed it to the deputy mayor," he said.

Therefore, currently there are three prospective mayor candidates who have taken the form, namely Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu (resistance, ed.), Arnaz Agung Andrarasmara (Chairman of KONI, Kadin, and Baznas Semarang City), and Semarang City Secretary Iswar Aminuddin.

The rest, took the form as deputy mayor of Semarang, including Supriyadi (former chairman of the Semarang City DPRD), Fajar Purwoto (former head of Satpol PP), and Dewi Susilo Budihardjo (entrepreneur).