Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – As the Democratic Party readies to elect a new chairman, chief patron President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is cracking down on those who would challenge his control of the party.

Evincing an unusual, if absolutist, resolve, Yudhoyono sent series of text messages to a mailing list of senior party members on Wednesday, warning those who have been planning to seize leadership of the party from him during the extraordinary congress scheduled for this weekend.

In the messages, leaked to the media and now widely circulated, Yudhoyono explicitly warned deputy chief patron Marzuki Alie against making moves to bolster his chances in the chairman's election.

Marzuki, who is also speaker of the House of Representatives, received the messages from Yudhoyono shortly after he gathered leaders of local party branches for a meeting in a hotel in North Jakarta.

Yudhoyono also questioned Marzuki's motives in convening the meeting during a time that was "full of calamities" and his commitment to party solidarity ahead of the congress.

"I have received information from a number of sources that Pak Marzuki Alie has gathered the leaders from local party branches," Yudhoyono said in a text message. "I'm concerned that what happened during the 2010 congress, including those shameful incidents, could be repeated."

Yudhoyono might have been referring to his decision to allow the party to directly elect Anas Urba-ningrum as chairman over his chosen candidate during the party's congress in 2010.

Anas resigned after he was named a suspect in the Hambalang graft scandal, requiring a congress to elect his successor.

Yudhoyono further warned that he would do whatever was necessary to save the embattled party. "I have restrained myself for far too long. I can no longer take it, so I will take all the risks needed to save the Democratic Party that we all love."

Deputy party chairman Max So-pacua confirmed the authenticity of the messages, denying that Yudhoyono was growing anxious about his control of the party. "He [Yudhoyono] is not angry. It depends on your take on it, because the text is personal in nature," Max told reporters.

While Marzuki denied receiving a text message from Yudhoyono, another text message circulated on Wednesday that was believed to have been sent by Marzuki in reply to Yudhoyono.

In the text, whose authenticity could not be confirmed at press time, Marzuki reportedly expressed disappointment over Yudhoyono's efforts to quash opposition within the party.

"Am I not committed enough to prove that I am loyal to the Democratic Party and Bapak SBY? I'm so sad, being positioned as your opposition, because I have sincerely supported you since 2003," the message said.

The message also acknowledged that Marzuki had met with local party leaders, assuring Yudhoyono that it was done to support Yudhoyono's installation as party chairman and offering a bizarre excuse.

"The visit of the regional leaders here in Jakarta was only in transit before heading to Bali, the message said. "It's not easy for them to get tickets to Bali, so I helped them find accommodations, while at the same time preparing their letters of support for you [Yudhoyono] to be the party's chairman, according to the Cikeas agreement."

Earlier this week, representatives of several local branches of the party urged Yudhoyono to take over as chairman, saying that Yudhoyono was the best candidate and that the congress should only be convened to inaugurate his leadership.

However, a host of critics within the party have emerged to voice opposition to Yudhoyono's ascension.

Democratic Party executive Sutan Bhatoegana said that the election of Yudhoyono as chairman would only lower its reputation across the nation.

"What would the world think if he serves as party chairman while his son is the party's secretary-general?" Sutan said, referring to Edhie "Ibas" Baskoro Yudhoyono.

Meanwhile, analyst Hanta Yudha of Pol-Tracking Institute said that Yudhoyono was getting more desperate about his attempt to take over the party.

"He is just not confident enough. He is still traumatized about the Bandung congress, which saw his man being defeated by a newbie," Hanta told The Jakarta Post.