NU Congress Still Overshadowed by Internal Rivalry

The undecided location for the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress is seen as evidence of ongoing internal dynamics and competition within the organisation.

Political analyst from the Citra Institute, Yusak Farchan, stated on Tuesday (23/6) that the failure to reach a consensus on the venue signals unresolved internal issues. Although structural reconciliation has formally eased previous conflicts, underlying rivalries and tensions persist ahead of the congress. He argued that the debate over the location cannot be separated from the ongoing political contestation.

Yusak assessed that the struggle over the venue is closely tied to the interests of the candidates expected to compete in the forum. He observed a rivalry between groups wanting the congress held at the Lirboyo Pesantren and those pushing for alternative locations outside Lirboyo. “The Lirboyo and non-Lirboyo axes (West Java, NTB, West Sumatra, Jakarta) are competing to secure the congress location to facilitate their respective victories,” he said.

According to Yusak, the differing preferences also relate to the political strategies of each candidate. He noted that the faction supporting the Nasaruddin Umar and Gus Ipul pairing appears less comfortable if the congress is held at Lirboyo. This group prefers a neutral location to allow greater flexibility for candidates to build communication and rally support from participants.

He explained that holding the congress within a pesantren environment carries specific consequences. Candidates would find it more difficult to conduct intensive lobbying or closed-door meetings with participants due to spatial constraints and a less supportive atmosphere. Conversely, if the congress were held in a major city like Jakarta, candidates would have more leeway to execute their political strategies and garner support.

Nevertheless, Yusak cautioned that the choice of location should not be based solely on political considerations. He urged the NU Central Board (PBNU) to prioritise the adequacy of facilities and infrastructure, as well as the host region’s financial capacity to support a national-scale forum.