Kediri, East Java – Senior ulemas opposed to the leadership of former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid in the divided National Awakening Party (PKB) are vowing to start a new political group.

The plan was unveiled Friday by one of the ulemas, Idris Marzuki, after the Supreme Court recently ruled Gus Dur's PKB faction was the legitimate face of the party.

"Executives and ulemas of the PKB (faction against Gus Dur) will meet in Jakarta tomorrow to discuss the establishment of a new party," Idris said in Kediri, East Java, as quoted by Antara.

He said the plan won unanimous agreement after ulemas performed ritual Istikharah prayers intended to seek guidance from God.

Idris accused the controversial Gus Dur, a prominent pluralist Muslim scholar, of being "inconsistent" in upholding purist Islamic teachings.

Under Gus Dur, the PKB, founded by Nahdlatul Ulama in 1999, has embraced non-Muslims as members and leaders in an effort to boost its support nationwide.