Ridwan Max Sijabat and Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Tension heightened Saturday in Bandung as the three candidates contesting the Democratic Party's top post launched an all-out campaign in the run-up to a vote late on Saturday.

In a debate broadcast live by Trijaya radio station and several television stations, the camps of candidates Andi Mallarangeng and Anas Urbaningrum went on a last ditch offensive to discredit one another, ignoring the party chief patron President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's call for fair play.

The congress venue and candidates' campaign posts saw an influx of supporters from Jakarta, West Java and other areas who claimed they came to the congress of their own volition.

Andi, who invited members of the press to his campaign post, said more political support was pouring in for him following Yudhoyono's speech and a night-long political maneuvering.

The main streets of Bandung and Padalarang have also turned into a battleground for the two contenders with pamphlets becoming more visible and billboards and banners being erected along main thoroughfares.

The three candidates, including House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie, declined to disclose the total amount they have spent on campaigning.

Analysts have called the congress a political war involving candidates contending the party's top post and their supporters that has also degenerated into a dirty affair with candidates exploiting loopholes "to block" their rivals from winning the election.

"The congress is no longer a political arena but has turned into a political war where each candidate and their campaign teams have launched an offensive not only to garner political support for their candidacy, but also to discredit one another," Gadjah Mada University political analyst Sigit Pamungkas said.

Sources at the congress said Yudhoyono in fact decided to take over the proceedings of congress session on Saturday morning to express disappointment with how candidates were competing for the top post, saying that candidates should not allow the media to fuel friction within the party as it would only benefit rival political parties.

Padjadjaran University political analyst Dede Mariana said Yudhoyono's speech in the opening ceremony served as a criticism of not only the rank and file of the Democratic Party but also other political parties that have behaved in an uncivilized manner in their own national congresses.

The tension began moments after the congress was opened on Friday evening with the three candidates holding a series of closed-door meetings in a number of hotels in Bandung.

Analysts said with such fierce competition, vote buying was almost certainly going on, but that it would be difficult to prove.

"It is a political matter and business deal. If you don't have money, you won't get political support. Unlike the legislative elections, the congress is a field day for regional functionaries. We can assume they received not only transportation fees and lump sums, but also a high price for their vote during the chairmanship election," Sigit said.

In the congress session itself, delegates were at odds over several issues concerning voting procedures.

Delegates debated the congress' agenda and candidates' qualifications. The Marzuki camp wanted the vote to take place on Saturday instead of Sunday, while Andi's camp wanted the vote to be held on Sunday as scheduled.

Many delegates also proposed a stipulation banning candidates from contesting if they held an elected office, an apparent reference to Marzuki.

Marzuki was quick to respond saying that his current job as House speaker would only empower the party to pass laws and monitor the government.