Jokowi And Megawati Go Down The Mountain, Constellation Of Central Java Gubernatorial Elections Can Change

Photo caption: Jokowi and Megawati's direct involvement has the potential to change the constellation of the 2024 Central Java Gubernatorial Election. (Ist)

Political observer Undip, Yoga Putra Prameswari assessed that the involvement of Megawati Soekarnoputri and Joko Widodo directly in the campaign of Andika Perkasa-Hendrar Prihadi and Ahmad Luthfi-Taj Yasin has the potential to change the political constellation in the Central Java gubernatorial election.

This is because the two figures have different special characters in influencing voters or gaining votes for supported candidates. Megawati is said to have a track record that cannot be underestimated as a voice repeater.

Yoga gave an example of Megawati's presence which was proven to have a tail effect on PDI in the 1987 election. From having only 4 seats in the DPR, PDI won 40 seats in the DPR after Megawati joined. It is also not wrong to call the PDI-P out as the winner of the first election after the Reformation due to Megawati's factors.

"With 33 percent of the votes in 1999, it was extraordinary. I think Megawati's figure as a voice repeater cannot be underestimated. Her capacity has been proven," he said, Sunday, November 3, 2024.

On the other hand, Jokowi is known as a figure who plays a populist leader's image and is also very effective in influencing voters. Since becoming Mayor of Solo, Jokowi has often shown a populist style of communication, such as when controlling market traders in Solo. "Ciri Jokowi is is issuing a short-term pro-people policy," added Yoga.

This style is consistently carried out by Jokowi until he assumed the presidency for two terms. Therefore, it is natural for the Indonesian Political Indicators survey to reveal 77.2 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with Jokowi's performance towards the end of his government.

"Although his track record is not as great as Megawati, we must admit that Jokowi's image of persona cannot be underestimated. Even Jokowi is considered by some to be considered one of the most successful populist leaders," said Yoga.

According to him, although PDIP is currently again the ruler of the Central Java parliament by reaping 26 percent of the votes in the 2024 Legislative Election, it is difficult for PDIP and Megawati to maintain the seat of governor back into the hands of their cadres. Moreover, the electability of the Luthfi-Yasin pair is still more dominant than Andika-Hendi.

"Currently the Lutfi-Yasin pair tend to be superior. However, as long as the final whistle has not sounded anything can affect the results. It remains only to what extent the internal consolidation of Andika and Hendi can win Central Java," concluded Yoga.