PDI-P drops Anies as candidate for Jakarta governor

Former businessman Pramono Anung is party's surprise pick for regional polls

- Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

Former presidential candidate Anies Baswedan was not selected by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to vie for the post of Jakarta governor, despite being widely seen as the front-runner in the lead-up to nomination day.

PDI-P, the country's main opposition force, has chosen its own cadre, businessman-turned-politician Pramono Anung.

This comes after days of intense talks centred on fielding Mr Anies, who is a staunch critic of outgoing President Joko Widodo, but is not from the PDI-P.

"Do you want to join PDI-P or do you want to use PDI-P?" Mrs Megawati Soekarnoputri, PDI-P chairwoman, said in a speech during the announcement of its candidates for the regional races on Aug 26, without referring to anyone.

The Straits Times understands that Mr Anies' nomination did not go ahead because he did not want to be a PDI-P cadre, and instead had opted to remain unaffiliated to any political party.

The vote for Jakarta's governor is part of regional elections on Nov 27 to fill posts for 37 provincial governors, 415 regents and 93 mayors across the archipelago.

The Jakarta governorship is a high-profile political role and is seen as a stepping stone to contesting Indonesia's presidency.

Nationalist-leaning PDI-P, which lost the presidential election but won the most seats in the last legislative election in February, will see its candidates face off against those favoured by President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Mr Widodo, who backed the former special forces general's presidential campaign.