Kaji Ipuk and the New Rhythm of the City Parliament

The journey of Kaji Ipuk from grassroots cadre to Chairman of the DPRD holds an important lesson that politics is not just about power, but about the long process of building trust. Surabaya (ANTARA) - In a council chamber familiar to his steps, that long journey seems to have found its meeting point. Wednesday, 6 May 2026, became a new marker when Syaifuddin Zuhri was officially inaugurated as Chairman of the DPRD Surabaya. For some people, the position may appear as a peak. But for the man commonly addressed as Kaji Ipuk, that point more closely resembles a knot in a long journey that began from below, from the quiet work of a cadre. His tracks did not emerge from a grand stage. He grew from the most basic party structure, from the branch to the sub-branch (PAC), up to the branch level (DPC). In a political tradition that often leaps quickly, the path he took reflects a gradual long process. He knows the pulse of the organisation from below, understands how the political machine works, and directly feels how community aspirations are gathered, filtered, and fought for. In the internal structure of the PDI Perjuangan Party in Surabaya, Kaji Ipuk is not a new figure. He once served as DPC Secretary twice, first in the era of the late Wisnu Sakti Buana, then trusted again during Armuji’s time. This position is not merely administrative, but a political coordination hub connecting cadres, party policies, and electoral strategies. From here, one important thing is evident: his leadership did not arise from instant momentum, but from the accumulation of organisational trust. In dynamic local politics, a track record like this becomes significant social capital. However, that journey did not stop at the party structure. The year 2009 became his entry into the legislative body. Since then, he has endured for three consecutive terms as a member of the DPRD Surabaya, until being re-elected in the 2024 Election with more than 13,000 votes in his electoral district. This consistency shows that his support base is not solely built by the party machine, but also by closeness to voters.