Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Megawati Sukarnoputri's party appeared to court former President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid on Thursday for a political alliance as she ramped up her challenge against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the presidential seat.

Senior members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) were out in force at a gathering of Gus Dur's supporters from the National Awakening Party (PKB), which remains divided between those who support the party's founder and Muhaimin Iskandar, whom the Constitutional Court has ruled is the legal head of the party.

Gus Dur boycotted the legislative elections and urged his supporters to follow his lead. The PIB suffered a 50 percent reduction in support according to recent polls, securing less than 5 percent of the vote but enough to win 27 seats in the House of Representatives.

Hundreds of loyal Gus Dur supporters attended the PKB's National Leadership Meeting at the Hotel Acacia in Central Jakarta on Thursday, as did Megawati's husband and negotiator, Taufik Kiemas, who chairs the PDI-P advisory board, and Suhardi, the chairman of the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra), which is led by Megawati's running mate, Prabowo Subianto.

Kiemas, however, dismissed speculation that he was attempting to lure Gus Dur into a partnership. He contended that he attended the ceremony because he was a close friend of Gus Dur's and not for hidden political gains.

Suhardi, however, confirmed that he was inviting Gus Dur and his supporters to bolster the Megawati-Prabowo ticket, though no official deal had been struck by the two sides.

"Maybe over the next two days, there would be a decision," Suhardi said. He said he was optimistic that Gus Dur and his supporters would join the coalition. "Because Mbak Yenny [Gus Dur's daughter] had always been with Prabowo during our party's campaign tour for April's legislative elections," he said.

Gus Dur had previously announced his support for Megawati, and met with her on a number of occasions. On Thursday he said his position had not changed, that he would also boycott the presidential election, and would not support a particular candidate.

"In the legislative elections, I did not vote," Gus Dur said. "And many citizens knew my decision, and then followed me by not voting."

Taufik, who sat beside Gus Dur during the interview, smiled at the former president's comments. Asked to comment on the statement, Taufik said he respected Gus Dur's decision.

"He is a man who favors democracy and the freedom to speak," Taufik said, adding that he also attended the event as a friend and not as a political maneuver. Asked about Muhaimin's decision to support Yudhoyono, Gus Dur said he didn't agree. "It's up to them to choose," he said.