Jakarta – The youth wings of some of the 19 political parties backing Jakarta governor candidate Fauzi Bowo in the Aug. 8 election announced Wednesday they were switching their support to rival candidate Adang Daradjatun.

Calling themselves the Jakarta Youth Forum, they said they were disappointed in their parties for ignoring the interests of the poor in the election.

"Party leaders nominated the candidates through an undemocratic process. The decision came without our approval," said Agung, head of Banteng Jakarta, the youth wing of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Democratic Youth Front (BMD) secretary Frans Watu of the Democratic Party said they "trust Adang more than Fauzi".

The Democratic Party initially mentioned former minister and Army general Agum Gumelar as its possible candidate, but changed to Fauzi with no transparent decision-making mechanism, he said.

Fauzi on Wednesday questioned the loyalty of supporters of the political parties backing his candidacy.

"Vote number two on Aug. 8... we'll check at each polling booth... don't just promise it now," he said, silencing supporters at Bulungan Youth Sports Hall in South Jakarta. Fauzi is number two on the ballot.

Fauzi himself said he was siding with the people by signing political contracts drafted by the Urban Poor Consortium and the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) respectively.

Fakta on Wednesday urged both candidates to revise the 1988 city ordinance on public order and security, which is currently being used as the legal basis to evict street vendors.

Adang did not reply to the signing invitation, Fakta chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan said.

In the contract, Fakta also demands that Fauzi improve public services including in the education, public transportation and residential sectors, and to create more jobs for the poor. "The contract is not that different from my own vision, mission and programs I have planned for Jakarta if I become governor," Fauzi said in his speech.