PKB Prepares Former Chairperson Of The East Java PWNU To Be The Competitor In The Gubernatorial Election, Khofifah: No Problem

PSI Chairman Kaesang Pangarep together with PSI and Khofifah Indar Parawansa-Emil Dardak/PHOTO administrators: DIah Ayuu-VOI

JAKARTA - Khofifah Indar Parawansa responded to the efforts of the National Awakening Party (PKB) which will carry former East Java PWNU chairman Marzuki Mustamar as a candidate for Governor of East Java in the 2024 Pilkada.

Khofifah did not make the attitude of PKB which would carry its competitors in the East Java gubernatorial election a problem. Because, it is the right of PKB in supporting anyone to become a candidate for regional head.

"There is no problem, yes. Each of them has political rights and can also be promoted, in the process of this contestation," said Khofifah at the PSI DPP office, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, June 4.

The former governor of East Java is also optimistic that he can win the election contestation. Given, he and Emil Dardak have bagged 57 seats in support from the coalition of political parties.

"Bismillah," he said.

Now, the incumbent pair Khofifah-Emil has pocketed the blessing of five political parties to advance in the East Java gubernatorial election, namely Golkar, Perindo, Democrats, PAN, and PSI.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the PKB Regional Election Decree Abdul Halim Iskandar said his party was waiting for the readiness of the former Chairman of the East Java Nahdlatul Ulama Regional Management (PWNU) Marzuki Mustamar to be promoted in the 2024 gubernatorial election in East Java Province.

PKB has expressed its desire to carry Marzuki to become a candidate for Governor of East Java (Jatim) and compete with Khofifah Indar Parawansa who has asked for support from a number of parties.

"PKB cannot claim that today Kiai Marzuki is willing and ready. If the PKB is ready, the aspirations are ready, but we will wait for the final touch," said Halim at the PKB DPP office, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, May 29.

Halim said that currently Marzuki is still traveling to meet the community to accommodate their aspirations. Halim claimed that many East Java residents had asked Marzuki to be carried by PKB.

However, Halim reiterated that the decision to nominate regional head candidates in East Java by PKB depended on Marzuki's willingness. After agreeing, then PKB will find out who is the right person to be promoted as a deputy governor candidate.

"Even though we are ready, Kiai Marzuki said, 'wah, don't', of course we will not force it, because there are also extraordinary figures and icons of NU East Java who are increasingly popular after being dismissed by PBNU. So, it turns out that the impact is one of them," he explained.