Armando Siahaan, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Antara – Long forgotten as a political vehicle until it resurfaced behind Prabowo Sugianto in his failed bid for the presidency last year, the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) is again suddenly in the spotlight with a leadership bid by a daughter of the late President Suharto.

Established in 1973, the HKTI is a confederation of 14 organizations of agricultural producers. Prominent in its support for Suharto during his three decades in power, it faded with the downfall of the dictator in 1998. Prabowo became chairman in 2005 and used it extensively to campaign for his party, the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), and his run at the presidency.

HKTI today begins a four-day national congress in Bali to elect a new chairman for 2010-15.

Siti Hediyati "Titiek" Hariyadi – also a former wife of Prabowo – is the latest to announce her interest. Titiek also happens to be a deputy secretary general of the Golkar Party. "I ask for your support to continue to realize Pak Harto's efforts to make farmers self-reliant," she said, referring to her father by his nickname.

Titiek's announcement was the latest after Jafar Hafsal, a lawmaker and an official of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party, declared his candidacy on June 28.

Aside from Prabowo, other figures expressing interest include Oesman Sapta, from the Regional Unity Party (PPD), and former Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono, from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Titiek has pledged not to use HKI as a political vehicle to raise Golkar's grassroots clout – including in the 2014 elections. "I will not make HKTI yellow," she said, referring to Golkar's color. "Making a political choice is a member's individual affair."

Many are doubtful. Burhanuddin Muhtadi, a political analyst from the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), said Titiek's candidacy was highly motivated by politics.

He argued that Golkar, like other parties, was seeking to capitalize on the HKTI as "an instrument for the political party," and that Titiek had the most viable links with farmers given her father's legacy.

"Electorally, the HKTI constitutes a huge market for political parties," he said, referring to the fact that over 44 percent of Indonesians work in agriculture, and that the group has the networking capacity to reach those farmers.

Titiek's candidacy also highlights the Suharto family's attempt to make a comeback in the political arena, Burhanuddin said. "It's quite clear the Suharto family wants to re-enter politics."

Titiek's younger brother, businessman Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, failed miserably to be elected Golkar's chairman in 2009, while elder sister Siti Hardiyanti "Tutut" Rukmana is a key figure in the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB).