By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- A total of 207.1 million voters are set to cast their ballots in Indonesia’s 2024 simultaneous regional elections (Pilkada) on Wednesday, which will determine leadership across 545 regions, including 37 provinces, 415 regencies, and 93 cities.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has reported that the voter base is nearly evenly divided, with 103.2 million men and 103.9 million women eligible to vote for regional leaders, including governors, regents (Bupati), and mayors (Wali Kota).
They will exercise their right to vote at 435,296 polling stations spread across the country.
Political analysts have highlighted several high-profile gubernatorial races as key contests to watch, particularly in Central Java, North Sumatra, and Jakarta, where the outcomes are expected to have significant national implications.
In North Sumatra, a tight race is underway between Bobby Nasution, the current mayor of Medan and son-in-law of former President Joko Widodo, running with Surya, and incumbent governor Edy Rahmayadi, who is partnered with Hasan Basri.
Meanwhile, in Central Java, the contest sees Andika Perkasa, a former four-star general and PDIP-backed candidate, alongside Hendrar Prihadi, the former mayor of Semarang, competing against Ahmad Luthfi, the former chief of Central Java Police, and Taj Yasin Maimoen.
PDIP or Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle is led by its chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri.
The latter duo is backed by a coalition of nine political parties, including Gerindra, Golkar, and Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB), with significant influence from President Prabowo Subianto who is also the chairman of Gerindra.
In Jakarta, considered a strategic battleground, former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil is contesting with Suswono, while Pramono Anung is supported by Rano Karno. Additionally, Dharma Pongrekun, a former three-star police general, is vying for leadership alongside Kun Wardana.
To manage the extensive electoral process, the Indonesian government has allocated Rp 28.76 trillion (US$1.8 billion), while the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) has received Rp 8.63 trillion (US$540 million) to ensure the integrity and smooth running of the elections.
-- BERNAMA
