New PDIP chairman in Central Java named

SEMARANG: President Megawati Soekarnoputri's party has appointed Gunawan Wiro Sarojo as acting chairman of the party's Central Java chapter, replacing Mardijo has been fired for seeking the post of governor in the province.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) also named deputy secretary of the party's central board Pramono Anung to replace Mardijo's secretary Wuwuh Beno Nugroho, who backed the dismissed chairman's gubernatorial bid.

The official notifications of their dismissals were received by the Central Java party office on Monday morning.

Wuwuh said the notifications were signed by Megawati as the PDI Perjuangan chairperson and secretary-general Soetjipto.

Soetjipto confirmed that the dismissal of Mardijo and Wuwuh was related to the nomination of the province's party chairman for the governorship.

"The reason for the dismissal of Mardijo is because he is insisting on contesting the gubernatorial race in Central Java, even though his bid has been rejected by the central board," he said.

Mardijo's running mate in the election will be Hisyam Alie. The vote is scheduled for July 24.

Megawati has backed the pairing of incumbent governor and former military commander in the province Mardiyanto and Ali Mufis.

Mardiyanto is expected to garner at least 16 votes from the 25 councillors of the PDI Perjuangan and 16 others from the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Only 18 votes from the PDI Perjuangan will likely go to Mardijo, and the pairing of Kirbiantoro and Hisyam Ali is expected to get 16 votes from United Development Party (PPP) legislators. --JP