Camelia Pasandaran – With one Islam-based political party already tearing itself in two, the National Mandate Party was running the same risk by selecting Hatta Rajasa and Drajad Wibowo as party chairman and deputy chairman, respectively, a political analyst said on Sunday.

Burhanuddin Muhtadi, from the Indonesia Survey Institute (LSI), told the Jakarta Globe that Hatta and Drajad, both named to their positions on the final day of the party's national congress in Batam on Saturday, had different vested interests, with Hatta, the coordinating minister for the economy, close to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Drajad wanting the party to take a more oppositional stance.

"For example, in the Century case, Hatta might see harmony within the president's coalition as more important, especially after Yudhoyono said he would later evaluate the effectiveness of the coalition," Burhanuddin said. "However, Drajad wants to adopt a contrary position. If they are not careful, these [differences] could lead to the party fracturing."

In the run up to the national congress, Drajad was expected to challenge Hatta as a replacement for outgoing chairman Sutrisno Bachir, but he withdrew from the race after being offered the deputy position. He was by far the underdog, having secured only the support of the party's Central Java branch, while 29 branches backed Hatta.

The party, also known as PAN, is likely to solidify its support for Yudhoyono's Democratic Party-led coalition. Currently, the cabinet includes three ministers from PAN's ranks.

After his election, Drajad again demanded a full investigation of the PT Bank Century scandal and allegations the Democratic Party and Yudhoyono benefited from the bailout.

He reminded all party members that PAN had been formed out of the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, which has been critical of the government for the bailout.

Arbi Sanit, a political expert from the University of Indonesia, said that under normal conditions, Hatta should have stepped down as minister when he decided to run as the party's leader.

"The strategy of placing Drajad as the deputy chairman makes Hatta's [dual] positions safe [because] his day-to-day role as party chairman can be delegated to Drajad," Arbi said. "This is also good for Drajad, as it was better for him to withdraw [from the chairmanship race] rather than to lose the game."

Arbi said because PAN is a member of the coalition, whoever is in charge of the party will not distance it from the government.