Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The race to chair President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party has become more heated as negative campaigning enters the picture and candidates hurl accusations against each other.

Ahmad Mubarok, a member of the campaign team for Anas Urbaningrum, claimed on Sunday that there had been a systematic attempt to degrade Anas through a text message sent to all of the party's regional branches and by other figures badmouthing Anas.

"These messages say that Anas is being supported by Yudhoyono's rival, that he will turn the Democratic Party into an Islamic party and that he will distance the party from Yudhoyono," Ahmad told The Jakarta Post.

"The messages are sent every day. They've even reached Cikeas," he added, referring to the West Java town where Yudhoyono's private residence is situated.

Ahmad added that both the President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono had questioned Anas regarding the statements in the message. Ahmad said that Anas denied all allegations in the text message.

Ahmad declined to speculate on who might be behind the text messages, saying only that they came from people who didn't want Anas, the head of Democratic Party at the House of Representatives, to win.

Ahmad also accused one of Anas' rivals, former presidential spokesman and current Youth and Sports Minister Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, of receiving support from figures in the Golkar Party.

He said it would be Golkar stood to gain if Andi was elected, saying that Anas had stronger ties to leaders of the regional branches of the party, thus allowing him to better solidify the party.

"I learnt about this from regional party leaders who in turn know of this from friends in Golkar. I have a friends there as well, so I know that they dislike Anas," he said.

Both Golkar and Andi's supporters have, however, denied the claims. Andi's campaign team secretary Ramadhan Pohan dismissed the accusation, saying it was clearly a "smear campaign" against Andi.

"We consider the race an internal party event that does not involve outsiders," Ramadhan said. "We're trying to win by prioritizing having dialogue and campaigning before hundreds of party executives in 520 regency and municipal branches and 33 provincial branches," he added.

Ramadhan also denied the text messages were spread by Andi's supporters, saying the accusation was "misdirected" and that Andi's campaign team would not go against the President's calls to have a fair and respectful competition.

Apart from Andi and Anas, who are both Democratic Party deputy chairmen, party secretary-general and House Speaker Marzuki Alie has also declared his bid for the party chairmanship. The post will be decided during the party's upcoming national congress from May 21-23.

Marzuki earlier claimed that an event to launch his bid in late March had been boycotted, with some regional party leaders not allowed to come to Jakarta to attend the event by their supervisors.