Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has been following the quick count tallying in her home in Kebagusan, South Jakarta, since Wednesday afternoon (15/02).
Megawati hosted a lunch meeting attended by incumbent Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his deputy Djarot Saiful Hidayat, the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) chairman Oesman Sapta Odang and PDI-P secretary general Hasto Kristianto.
"We had lunch with Mrs. Mega, Mr. Oesman, the [PDI-P] secretary general and several other friends," Ahok told the press after the meeting.
Ahok jokingly said they did not talk about anything much beyond the lunch menu, though he admitted they were keeping a close watch on quick count results from local news portals and TV stations.
The incumbent governor said he remains optimistic on the final results. "Politicians are always optimistic," Ahok said.
Prabowo optimistic of Anies-Sandiaga's chances
Gerindra, or Great Indonesia Movement Party, chairman Prabowo Subianto said he has also been following the quick count results, telling the press he was pleased to see the Gerindra-backed Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno in the top two by many reckoning.
"Anies-Sandi are a 'pahe' [economy pack] pairing," Prabowo told the press at Gerindra's head office in Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon.
Prabowo did not explain what he meant by the cryptic description, but reports have shown that the pair spent Rp 64.7 billion ($4.85 million) on their four-month campaign, with Sandi donating Rp 62.8 billion.
Aside from Gerindra, only one other party is backing Anies and Sandi, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
Since the quick count results have been showing the pair in their top two, Prabowo claimed that Jakarta voters still believe in truth and justice.
"It is only with justice that we can provide peace and calm in Indonesia. The people only want justice. That's all I can say," Prabowo said.
According to the Jakarta Election Commission, or KPUD, more than 7.1 million voters are registered in 13,032 polling stations across the capital, where the race for the governor's seat is turning into one of the more divisive political battles in the country's democratic era.If none of the three candidates in the Jakarta election gets more than 50 percent of the total votes cast on Wednesday, a run-off election between the two candidates with the most votes will be held in May.