Febriamy Hutapea – An 11th-hour decision by Tommy Suharto to run for chairman of the Golkar Party would not change the outcome of the upcoming election, two supporters of rival candidate Aburizal Bakrie claimed on Thursday.

Theo Sambuaga, a senior member of the party, said that Bakrie, the coordinating minister for people's welfare, had the largest support from almost all the regions.

He reiterated that the party's internal regulations required that any candidate for chairman should have been a party member for 10 years and have held a leadership position within the past five years – requirements that Tommy, whose real name is Hutomo Mandala Putra, has not met.

"Everyone who runs in the national congress should follow the party's internal rules, because these are a must," he said. "We all know that Tommy was never active in Golkar."

Theo also acknowledged that Tommy's run-in with the law would make it difficult for him to fulfill the requirements to run for party chairman.

The controversial favored son of the late dictator Suharto was convicted in 2002 of ordering the murder of Supreme Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita after he found him guilty on corruption charges. The corruption conviction was later overturned.

Golkar politician Priyo Budi Santoso, another Bakrie supporter, said that Tommy's candidacy would not significantly change the mapping of political support in Golkar. "It will not change anything just because one candidate joins [the congress]," he said.

"To build the image of a national figure is not an easy task. It's a long-term process," Priyo said, indicating that Tommy could not easily start his political career by gunning for the party chairmanship.

Priyo, however, said the party's internal rule could be amended during a special occasion, like the national congress scheduled for Oct. 4-7. He said that he would let the congress participants determine the fate of that internal rule. "That's the right of congress members," he said.

Priyo said that Tommy's decision to run in the congress would make the competition more interesting, though was not sure where Tommy's supporters would come from. "But, if he wants to build the Golkar Party with us together, I just can say welcome home, Mas Tommy," he said.

Other senior party members running for chairman include media mogul Surya Paloh and two up-and-coming party members, Yuddy Chrisnandi and Ferry Mursyidan Baldan.