Comedian Qomar won't run in poll

INDRAMAYU, East Java: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has nominated 10 pairs of Indramayu regent and vice regent hopefuls, but the name of comedian Nurul Qomar did not appear on the list of PDI-P candidates.

Qomar's candidacy was apparently not backed by the executives of the party's Indramayu branch.

"It is the exclusive right of the party's executives to name PDI-P candidates and by mistake, the name of Qomar has not been included on the list," said Ono Surono, the secretary of the PDI- P's Indramayu branch. The 10 pairs of candidates were named during a party meeting on Sunday, said Ono.

Later, the national and provincial boards of party executives will choose one pair from among the 10 to contest October's regency election in Indramayu, said Ono.

"Indramayu's PDI-P branch merely forwards the names of the 10 pairs, the decision to name a single pair of candidates rests with the party's boards of executives," said Ono. -- JP