Puan Considers Central Java Gubernatorial Election Not Star War

Chairman of the PDI-P DPP Puan Maharani. BETWEEN/Zuhdiar Laiis

The chairman of the PDI-P DPP, Puan Maharani, revealed that the 2024 Central Java Regional Head Election (Pilkada) termed by many parties as "star wars" is not true.

"This is not a star war, this is both (followed, ed.) a candidate who happens to have a star. It's not a star war, it's really scary," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 4.

He conveyed this after attending a Special Regional Work Meeting (Rakerdasus) which discussed strategies and consolidation in the face of regional head elections (pilkada) in Central Java.

Two pairs of candidates for governor and deputy governor have registered for the 2024 Central Java Pilkada, namely the Andika Perkasa-Hendrar Prihadi (Hendi) pair promoted by the PDI Perjuangan.

Andika Perkasa is a retired four-star general who is also a former Army Chief of Staff and TNI Commander, while Hendi is a former Head of the Indonesian Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute (LKPP) and former Semarang Mayor.

Then, the pair Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin Maimoen (Gus Yasin) who was promoted by nine political parties from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM) plus, namely Gerindra, Golkar, PPP, PAN, PKB, PSI, NasDem, PKS, and Democrats.

Luthfi is the last three-star police officer, namely the Commissioner General (Komjen) who is also the former Central Java Police Chief and former Inspector General of the Ministry of Trade, while Gus Yasin is the former Deputy Governor of Central Java.

According to Puan, the Rakerdasus this time was held as preparation for post-registration of candidates for PDI-P in the face of regional elections in Central Java.

"While waiting for everything to be completed, it was then announced on September 22 which will come. So, so that all Central Java structures are all ready to carry out the upcoming regional election process," he said.

Regarding the winning target in the 2024 Central Java Pilkada, he said the PDI-P did not set a special target in terms of numbers, but remained optimistic about winning the regional elections.

"The target is to win. Then we say that the clean sweep is too arrogant. Everyone has their own advantages, so we all fight together," he said.

What is clear, Puan hopes that the Central Java Pilkada must take place in a polite, ethical, honest, fair manner, and let the people of Central Java choose who is the most worthy leader.

"Pesan Bu Mega (Megawati Soekarnoputri, ed.), yes, do the pilkada well honestly. Let the people of Central Java choose the leader," he said.

Regarding the Andika-Hendi pair who are still behind in the survey compared to the opposing pair, Puan is also not too worried and remains optimistic.

"He (Andika-Hendi) has just volunteered as a candidate. So, we'll see. The survey will be a guide, but in the future, we'll see," he said.

In fact, Puan is still optimistic that the PDI-P will still be able to maintain Central Java Province as a "bullet cage" in the 2024 Pilkada.