Jakarta – The Golkar Party has nominated prominent politician Dedi Mulyadi for the West Java gubernatorial election and strongly indicated that it will select Ridwan Kamil for Jakarta.
Dedi, a former regent of Purwakarta in West Java and a former member of the House of Representatives, has recently become a media sensation after interviewing witnesses in a controversial murder case in Cirebon.
Meanwhile, Ridwan's potential nomination for the Jakarta election will ensure that former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan faces a worthy challenger in his reelection bid.
Golkar Chairman Airlangga Hartarto said in Jakarta on Friday that Dedi's nomination has been discussed with the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra). Golkar and Gerindra are the largest parties in the coalition that supported Prabowo Subianto's successful presidential campaign.
When asked if Golkar will nominate Ridwan for Jakarta, Airlangga replied: "It's obvious that if we nominate Dedi for West Java, you know who our pick for Jakarta is."
Golkar has previously issued an assignment letter for Ridwan to prepare himself as a gubernatorial candidate for either Jakarta or West Java.
Dedi, a former Golkar politician who has joined Gerindra, accepted his nomination and expressed gratitude to Golkar for its trust in him. He mentioned that Airlangga had spoken to him over the phone about the nomination.
"Mr. Airlangga told me to focus on West Java and never cross boundaries. I was also told to find a running mate from Golkar," Dedi said.