Central Java Regional Head Election, Star War In Banteng Kandang

Photo by Andry Winnarko (VOI)

JAKARTA - The election for the Regional Head of the Governor of Central Java for the period 2024-2029 is certain to be fierce. Many people say that the Central Java regional election feels like a star war. Following the appearance of 2 candidate pairs with a general background facing each other.

On the one hand, General Bintang 3, Komjen Ahmad Lutfi paired with Taj Yasin, son of former famous cleric Kyai Maimoen Zubair, supported by 13 KIM Plus Coalition parties. Dealing with 4th Star General, General TNI (Ret.) Andika Perkasa is paired with Hendrar Prihadi, the former mayor of Semarang. Although it is only supported by the PDIP party alone, it has become a common secret that Central Java is the basis for the militant mass of PDIP supporters who have been tested in several elections. PDIP votes have always excelled in this province.

The history of these two candidates, for example Ahmad Luthfi, is the former Central Java Police Chief, a strong track record in the police world. Luthfi graduated from Sepa Milsuk Polri 1989 and has experience in the field of Intelligence. Luthfi has served as the Head of the Batang Police, Deputy Chief of the Surakarta Police, and the last Central Java Police Chief to become the Director General of the Ministry of Trade in 2024. Luthfi has long experience dealing with security issues in Central Java.

Meanwhile, Andika graduated from the 1987 Military Academy, serving in various strategic positions, including as Commander of the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres), Commander of Kodam XII/Tanjungpura, until the last Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) became TNI Commander in 2021.

Central Java is predicted to be an exciting political battleground in this year's Pilkada. Two pairs of candidates for governor and deputy governor are ready to fight for the number one seat. Ahmad Lutfi, who is supported by the Forward Indonesia Coalition Plus (KIM Plus), will represent the diversity of all supporting groups. Moreover, the pair Taj Yasin Maimoen, from the PPP party, is very close to the Islamic group and Nahdlatul Ulama. Taj Yasin, also the former deputy governor of Central Java, a couple from Ganjar Pranowo, has had the capital to manage the government for 5 years. The name Taj Yasin was actually predicted to be paired with a candidate from PDIP. However, it was finally taken by KIM so that PDIP failed to carry it.

Meanwhile, his rivals Andika Perkasa and Hendrar Pribadi, even though they are only supported by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP). In terms of support, the two of them did not complement each other or complement each other because they came from the same party. However, PDIP seems confident in applying for its own candidate pair, this was admitted by the PDIP Spokesperson, Nicho Hakim, during a dialogue on COMPASS TV. This is because Central Java has been known as the "Candang Banteng", the location of the PDIP era that has been solid and has repeatedly held PDIP elections has always been the winner in Central Java.

In addition to Andika's big name, which is well known to the wider community, as well as his reputation and good name throughout his career leading soldiers to the level of the TNI Commander, it is quite well maintained and not tarnished. PDIP believes it can match Ahmad Lutfi's reputation, which was first known to the people of Central Java, because he is the Central Java Police Chief and is supported by the coalition of KIM Plus parties.

The power of the KIM Plus Coalition, which consists of parties such as Gerindra, Golkar, PAN, PPP, and other parties, has a wide voter base in various regions in Central Java. This coalition support provides significant benefits for this pair in terms of resources, logistics, and political networks spread throughout the province.

Ahmad Lutfi, a figure with a strong background in the field of security and government, is seen as a firm figure and able to bring real change in Central Java. Meanwhile, Taj Yasin, who is the son of a prominent religious figure and former Deputy Governor of Central Java, is believed to bring electoral forces that cannot be ignored, especially among traditional Muslim voters.

The KIM Plus Coalition gives this pair an advantage in terms of diversification of the voter base. Each party in the coalition has strength in different voter segments, from young voters to voters in rural areas, from religious circles to intermediate economic groups. This combination makes the campaign of Ahmad Lutfi and Taj Yasin more inclusive and touches various levels of society.

Meanwhile, the strength of PDIP with a militant and solid mass base strength in Central Java is believed to be a very extraordinary capital to win the fight. PDIP is already known as the dominant party in the province, with a strong and influential political network that is significant among local communities.

Andika Perkasa, who has a military background and former TNI Commander, brought a strong and disciplined figure. High popularity at the national level is expected to attract sympathy from Central Java voters. Hendrar Pribadi, who is a former Mayor of Semarang with a positive track record, provides experience in local governments, strengthens his position in government management going forward.

PDIP, on the basis of "Kandang Banteng", will provide great benefits for mass mobilization. PDIP-based areas, such as Soloraya and its surroundings, are known to be loyal to the PDIP party, become a strength in itself for Andika Perkasa and Hendrar Pribadi. PDIP's confidence in mobilizing its loyal voters gave this couple a great opportunity to win this political battle.

The Battle Of Coalition Against Mass Bases

The fight between Andika- Hendradi's pair against Lutfi -Taj Yasin was a battle between the strength of the mass base and the struggle for support by many coalitions. Both of them must have a comprehensive campaign strategy and rely on the ability to reach various segments of voters.

Their campaign will be a test ground between the strengths of the coalition of major parties with solidity and mass loyalty in "Kandang Banteng". On the one hand, KIM Plus's grand coalition will seek to attract wider and diverse voters, by offering changes and innovations for the future of Central Java. On the other hand, PDIP will try to maintain its dominance by relying on the loyalty of voters who have been proven in a number of elections.

This is a political battle that cannot be taken lightly. This will also be the most interesting political battle in Indonesia, bringing together two pairs of candidates with very different political support, but equally strong. Whether the grand coalition of KIM Plus is able to lower the dominance of PDIP in the "Candang Banteng" along with loyalty and militancy.

Political observer at Diponegoro University, Nur Hidayat Sardini, assessed that the fight involving the star's war would have consequences for the regional elections being a little warm. Regarding the potential, if the two camps bring their respective initusi. If at the same time for the second to take advantage of the infrastructure of the two institutions, it could be inevitable, it would be dangerous.

Because the two security institutions both have infrastructure and equipment networks to the villages. They each have devices such as Babinsa (TNI) and Bhabinkamtibmas (Polri). "Both can be supervisory factors, it can also be a player factor. Hopefully, that's the only factor, there will be no factor in abuse of office or abuse a power", said Nur, when speaking to Kompas television, August 28. Because even though the campaign period has not yet started, the tension has already been felt.