Gerindra's Explanation Regarding the Membership of the Tulungagung Regent

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a sting operation (OTT) against Tulungagung Regent Gatut Sunu Wibowo. Gerindra’s East Java executives stated that Gatut has not yet officially become a member of the party.

Gerindra’s East Java Membership and Cadreisation Organisational Chairman Hidayat stated that Gatut did intend to join the party. However, his membership has not yet been formalised.

“Not yet (a member). There is indeed a process, but he has not officially become a Gerindra cadre because there has been no decision from the DPP,” said Hidayat in his statement on Saturday, 11 April 2026.

Hidayat said that his party nominated Gatut and Ahmad Baharuddin as candidates for Regent and Deputy Regent of Tulungagung for the 2024-2029 period. “At that time, we, together with Golkar and PKS, nominated Gatut and Ahmad Baharuddin. The Gerindra cadre serving as deputy is Mas Ahmad Baharuddin,” he said.

Based on gathered information, Gatut was previously a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP). However, Gatut is considered to have defected because he ran in the regional election supported by other parties.

This was confirmed by PDIP East Java’s Deputy Chairman for Membership and Organisation, Budi Sulistyono Kanang. He stated that Gatut’s membership status has lapsed.

“When a PDIP member runs for executive or legislative positions from another party, their membership lapses automatically without a dismissal process,” Kanang explained.

The DPR member emphasised that Gatut is no longer a PDIP cadre since then. “So Gatut is no longer a member of PDI Perjuangan,” Kanang said.