Yuli Tri Suwarni and Hans David Tampubolon, Bandung/Jakarta – Maj. Gen. Pramono Edhi Wibowo, the younger brother of First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, was inaugurated Wednesday as the Siliwangi Military commander, overseeing West Java and Banten, a post seen as a stepping stone to the Army's highest seat.

The move follows the inauguration in September of Lt. Gen. George Toisutta, a close aide to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as the Army chief of staff, sparking rumors of a wider reshuffle to set up allies of the President in key TNI positions.

Pramono's move from chief of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) to Siliwangi commander is giving credence to speculation that he may go on to higher posts, including chief of the Army's Strategic Command (Kostrad) and even Army chief of staff.

George was previously the Siliwangi commander and Kostrad chief before becoming Army chief of staff, widely seen as the ultimate career path to becoming the TNI chief.

Pramono, a 1980 graduate of the Military Academy, is the first from his year to assume the role of territorial commander, with the previous Siliwangi commander, Maj. Gen. Rasyid Qurnuen Aquary, hailing from the 1975 batch.

Parahyangan University military observer Anak Agung Banyu Perwita, who in September predicted that Pramono would be made Siliwangi commander after George was made Army chief, said that with Yudhoyono's other family member, Lt. Gen. Suryo Prabowo, serving as deputy to the Army chief, all military chiefs would soon fall under the President's control.

He added that after serving as Siliwangi commander, it would be easier for Pramono to head up Kostrad then the Army, finally becoming the TNI commander.

The ultimate goal, he said, was to smooth the way for the rise through the ranks of Capt. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the President's oldest son, to groom him as the country's next leader.

"Yudhoyono's not eligible to run for president in 2014, so the next two years will likely see Pramono promoted to a three-star general, the Kostrad commander, and then the Army chief of staff," he said.

George played down the claim, saying Pramono's promotion was due anyway and had nothing to do with the Presidential Palace pulling strings.

"Seen from the hierarchy, the leadership replacement is being carried out in accordance with the regeneration [in the Army]," he said after the inauguration ceremony.

"There's no manipulation in Pramono's promotion." He added the reshuffle was part of the military's efforts to refresh Army interests and organization.

Yudhoyono was not at the inauguration ceremony, as he is currently on a four-country European trip. Pramono declined to comment on his promotion.

Rasyid has been named the assistant to the TNI commander on intelligence affairs.

Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Christian Zebua said the recent reshuffle, including Pramono's new assignment, had not ruffled any feathers within the Army because it had been "conducted professionally". "The assistant to the TNI commander on intelligence affairs is actually a prestigious post," he said.