Jakarta – Ahead of the party's national congress in early July, competition is brewing at the United Development Party (PPP) as several members engage in a fierce battle to head the Islamic party.

Incumbent chairman Suryadharma Ali, who is also the religious affairs minister, is seeking a second term and has emerged as one of the strongest candidates.

His fiercest competition looks likely to come from legislator and veteran party executive Ahmad Muqowwam, who was recently transferred from the House of Representatives' Commission IV overseeing education where he served as commission chairman to Commission II overseeing housing and population, of which he is only a member.

Muqowwam's supporters claim the transfer was political maneuvering on Suryadharma's part to stifle support for Muqowwam's bid to be the party's next chairman.

"Suryadharma is scared. He's afraid of losing his post and he will do anything to hold on to it," party executive Yuyon Ali Fahmi, a close aide to Muqowwam, told The Jakarta Post.

Suryadharma's campaign team, however, denied the allegations, saying Muqowwam's transfer was part of a routine shake-up to improve the party's performance at the House. "The transfer is in no way linked to the race for party chairman," PPP deputy secretary-general M. Romahurmuziy told the Post.

Other party members have also voiced their intentions to join the race, including legislator Ahmad Yani from the House legal affairs commission and new party member Muchdi Purwopranjono, who previously served as deputy chairman of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) until his move to the PPP in February this year.

Muchdi was elected to head the party's Papua provincial branch on May 18. The PPP national executive board decided on the same day, however, not to recognize Muchdi's victory and instead installed Bachtiar Ghaffar as the new head of the Papua branch.

As a result, Muchdi on Monday reported Suryadharma and three other members of the party's national executive board – Husnan Bey Fananie, Emron Pangkapie and Romahurmuzy – for defamation and improper conduct.

Lawyer Eggi Sudjana, who is close to Muchdi Purwopranjono, said he believed Bachtiar's appointment was also a move by Suryadharma to cut down competitors.

The PPP will hold its national congress earlier in 2011 to "better prepare" for the 2014 elections. The congress will likely be held in Bandung from July 3 to 7.

The party, whose popularity is plummeting, is trying to gain the support of smaller Islamic parties to gain Muslim voters. The Crescent Star Party (PBB) is rumored to have plans to join the PPP, the second-largest Islamic party after the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), which is embroiled in a series of scandals and internal friction.

University of Indonesia political analyst Arbi Sanit said he believed there was a leadership crisis at the PPP. "There are not that many alternatives for a new chairman from within the party," he said.

Apart from party stalwarts, some outsiders are also being touted as possible candidates. Former Constitutional Court chief justice Jimly Asshidiqie, politician Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and former youth and sports minister Adhyaksa Dault have been linked to the race.

Arbi said Suryadharma and Muqowwam were the favorites. "The others' chances are pretty slim," he added. (mim)