Murdoko to chair Central Java's PDI-P

Murdoko to chair Central Java's PDI-P

SEMARANG: Murdoko was elected the new Central Java chairman of
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) on
Thursday to replace Mardijo.

Murdoko, who has served as the party's provincial deputy
treasurer, won 81 votes, defeating rivals Gatot Luprianto and
Agus Condro, who got 10 and four votes respectively.

Mardijo was fired by PDI Perjuangan leader President Megawati
Soekarnoputri for defying her instructions by contesting the
Central Java gubernatorial election on July 24.

In what many saw as an authoritarian move, Megawati tried to
block Mardijo's bid by backing the nomination of Mardiyanto, a
retired Army general, who was reelected as the governor for a
second five-year term.

Murdoko was elected to replace Mardijo as the former was
considered an impartial PDI Perjuangan figure among rival
factions within the party in Central Java. --JP