Muninggar Sri Saraswati – While Megawati Sukarnoputri seems certain to lead the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle at the faction's congress next month, daughter Puan Maharani is set to fight for the new position of deputy chairman with party heavyweights Pramono Anung and Tjahjo Kumolo.

Party member and lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari said on Wednesday that the three would likely compete for the position as part of a regeneration within the faction.

Puan holds the ticket mainly due to her status as a granddaughter of Sukarno, the charismatic former president. Her father, Taufik Kiemas, who is also the party advisory council chairman and head of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), has thrown his weight behind her and expects her to eventually replace Megawati.

Pramono, the party secretary general, and Tjahjo, the party's top executive, have extensive political experience. Pramono is a House deputy speaker, while Tjahjo chairs the party there.

But Tjahjo has been implicated in the bribery case involving former Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Governor Miranda Goeltom. "We need Megawati to unite [the party] for now, but there has to be a regeneration," Eva said.

She said the creation of the new position was considered the best way to prepare party members for a successor to Megawati.

Pramono said it would be up to the congress in Bali next month to decide whether the party needed a deputy chairman. He declined to comment on his possible bid for the post.

Political observers Airlangga Pribadi of Airlangga University and M Qodari of IndoBarometer said the party, also known as the PDI-P desperately needed to elect a new leader for the 2014 election.

"Megawati still attracts voters, but their numbers are declining day by day. PDI-P needs fresh figures to replace her, but the internal party still relies heavily on her to unite them," Airlangga said.

Qodari said the new position of deputy chairman may not be the answer to the problem. "If PDI-P really wants a regeneration, they have to give more responsibilities to their top executives. A deputy chairman, I believe, has no clear job description," he said.