Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Cracks appear to be forming in the coalition of 23 political parties backing incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and running mate Boediono, despite initial displays of unity.

Internal rifts within the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) surrounding the decision to back the Yudhoyono coalition in the upcoming presidential election are dragging on.

The fact the leaders of the two parties have signed a political contract agreeing to support Yudhoyono seems to have had no impact.

PPP chairman Suryadharma Ali said Tuesday the party would hold an internal meeting in coming weeks to discuss how it should respond to any party members defying party policy by working for other candidates.

Suryadharma said the PPP's decision to join forces with the coalition led by the Democratic Party (PD) was final. "We will meet to decide what to do with any members who act against the party policy," he said.

PPP executive Lukman Hakiem Syaifuddin has pledged to campaign for the Jusuf Kalla and Wiranto ticket, who were nominated by the Golkar Party and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura). "That is surely a violation of our party policy," Suryadharma said.

Suryadharma said Lukman informed him via text message that he had decided to side with Kalla and Wiranto as their spokesman.

Previously Suryadharma said he was not concerned by Lukman's decision, but the PPP chairman has now back flipped, claiming the party must take action against him in accordance with the party rules.

Before joining forces with Yudhoyono, Suryadharma held a series of meetings with Golkar chairman Kalla and the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Megawati Soekarnoputri, to consider forming a coalition known then as the "Golden Triangle". The proposal never materialized, with both Kalla and Megawati separately running for president.

PAN has been dealing with party conflict since its chief patron Amien Rais gathered party executives to rally support for Yudhoyono while chairman Soetrisno Bachir was leaning toward the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra). Later, Gerindra formed a coalition with the PDI-P.

Soetrisno had been reluctant to agree to a coalition with the PD before its chief patron Yudhoyono personally asked the PAN chairman to sign the deal.

In response to the split, PAN deputy chairman Patrialis Akbar said the party's constituents were free to choose other candidates in the July presidential election, despite the fact the party has made its official stance clear.

"We won't enforce sanctions on our members who choose different presidential candidates. They have their rights and we have to respect that," Patrialis said Tuesday.

Patrialis was one of the PAN leaders to witness Yudhoyono's declaration to contest the election in Bandung last Friday. PAN lawmaker Dradjad Wibowo, however, has publicly expressed his support for Kalla and Wiranto. (hdt)