Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – President Megawati Sukarnoputri's overriding concern with securing her future through political deal-making is causing ripples in Indonesia's most hotly contested political race after the national elections.

She stunned cadres from her PDI-P party this week by backing current Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso for a second term rather than one of her own legislators. The former military commander was accused of engineering violent attacks on her party headquarters in 1996.

Legislators say that by calling on Jakarta legislators to vote for Governor Sutiyoso, Ms Megawati stands accused of having abandoned her most ardent supporters – the people – as well as her own party cadres and the loyalists who stood by her during the Suharto years.

Party members in parliament as well as the local assembly and those close to the president were 'amazed and dumbfounded', according to University of Indonesia political analyst Andi Mallarangeng.

Professor Mochtar Buchori, a PDI-P legislator, added: "She seems to have forgotten her mission to improve the life of the people and just doesn't listen to the ordinary people."

Backing a former military man to rule Jakarta would minimise opposition during the 2004 elections, according to some analysts. Others suspect she may have negotiated a political deal with Mr Sutiyoso. Such a move could cost Ms Megawati her grassroots supporters, the professor said.

Mr Sutiyoso's crackdown on petty traders and rickshaw operators, as well as his failure to deal with floods this year, had attracted public criticism, he added.

On Tuesday, hundreds of PDI-P members staged a rally outside her Jakarta government offices calling Ms Megawati a 'traitor' for supporting Mr Sutiyoso when he was still a suspect in the 1996 attacks.

Mr Sutiyoso was the Jakarta garrison commander when the military and others seized control of the headquarters of the PDI-P, which was then in opposition.

Ironically, analysts now accuse Ms Megawati of imitating the tough approach of former president Suharto who tried to oust her as PDI-P leader in 1996.

"In the old days, Suharto appointed whoever he wanted as governor and everyone had to accept it, now Mega is repeating this process," said Mr Mallarangeng.

With backing from the PDI-P, which holds most seats in Jakarta's parliament, and the military and police faction, Mr Sutiyoso would easily be elected. Several PDI-P legislators have vowed to defy party orders.

The surprise over Ms Megawati's backing for Mr Sutiyoso was captured in the local papers. A cartoon in the Koran Tempo had Ms Megawati with her hands over her eyes, pushing Mr Sutiyoso. The caption read: Close the eyes and ears when choosing the Jakarta Governor.

The popular tabloid Rakyat Merdeka ran the front-page headline: Sutiyoso is apparently a secret PDI-P cadre, drawing attention to the fact that he was not even a PDI-P member.