Megawati Visits Bung Karno's Grave Accompanied by Hundreds of PDIP Cadres

Megawati Soekarnoputri, Indonesia’s fifth President and chairwoman of the DPP PDI Perjuangan (PDIP), made a pilgrimage to the grave of Bung Karno in Blitar, East Java, on Sunday, 14 June 2026. The pilgrimage to the grave of the Proclamator is a tradition routinely carried out by Megawati Soekarnoputri as a form of respect and contemplation. “Making a pilgrimage to Bung Karno’s grave is Ibu Megawati’s way of nurturing the undying flame of struggle,” said PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto. Amid the nation’s increasingly complex dynamics, Hasto continued, Bung Karno taught that a leader must always return to the roots, to the people, and to the values of Pancasila. Megawati arrived from Bali and landed at Kediri Airport, where she was immediately greeted festively by a line of cadres who had been waiting. Hundreds of cadres from Blitar and Malang were seen thronging the location, welcoming the daughter of Bung Karno directly. From the airport, Megawati and her entourage proceeded to Blitar. In the entourage, Megawati was accompanied by her son, M. Prananda Prabowo, and her great-grandchild, along with other extended family members, namely Puti Guntur Soekarno and Romy Soekarno. The party’s elite ranks also appeared united in accompanying her. Besides PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto, several PDIP DPP Chairpersons were also present, including: Deddy Yevri Sitorus (DPP Chair for Executive Election Victory and member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives), Darmadi Durianto (DPP Chair for Industry, Trade, and Labour), Ronny Talapessy (DPP Chair for National Legal System Reform), and Said Abdullah (DPP Chair for Resources and Chair of PDIP East Java Regional Board), who also serves as Chair of the Budget Committee of the Indonesian House of Representatives. Also present was Prof. Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, a friend of Megawati who is also a Professor at St. Petersburg University in Russia. Samuel Wattimena, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDIP faction, was also seen. After praying, Megawati exited the grave complex arm-in-arm with her son, M. Prananda Prabowo. Both then waved towards the crowd of people who had been waiting. Megawati then walked over to the crowd. She took the hands of three children, one boy and two girls. Megawati then engaged in dialogue with them. After the dialogue with the three children, Megawati excused herself from the public and walked towards her car. Then a woman in a yellow shirt pushed her way towards Megawati, calling “Bunda Mega”, while reaching out her hand to shake. Megawati smiled, stopped, and took the woman’s hand. “Alhamdulillah, ya Allah.. ya Allah.. thank you Bunda,” said the woman in the yellow shirt. Afterwards, Megawati, accompanied by Prananda, boarded the car and departed for a rest location. Since 2023 up to this year, Megawati has made several pilgrimages to her father’s grave. For example, on 21 June 2024, in the context of the 54th Haul Bung Karno Commemoration, Megawati made a pilgrimage accompanied by her sister Sukmawati Soekarnoputri. In November 2025, Megawati made a pilgrimage coinciding with the 70th Anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference. Previously, on 29 March 2026, Megawati performed a pilgrimage and offered prayers for the nation together with Guruh Soekarnoputra, Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, and Puti Guntur Soekarno. Megawati’s pilgrimages to Bung Karno’s grave almost always coincide with important national political moments. This current visit coincides with the 2026 Bung Karno Month.