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