Competition between three Nahdliyin women in the East Java gubernatorial election – Will Risma and Luluk ‘eat away’ Khofifah’s votes?

The presence of Tri Rismaharini and Luluk Nur Hamidah in the East Java gubernatorial election is said to ‘eat away’ the votes of the incumbent pair Khofifah Indar Parawangsa and Emil Elestianto Dardak, who are supported by a ‘fat’ coalition.

Political observer from Airlangga University, Kacung Marijan, assessed that the pair Tri Rismaharini and Zahrul Azhar Asumta will optimize support in the Arek (central East Java) and Mataraman (western East Java) regions, which are their strongest bases and those of the supporting party, PDI Perjuangan (PDIP).

The Luluk Nur Hamidah and Lukmanul Khakim pair supported by the National Awakening Party (PKB) led by Muhaimin Iskandar are said to be securing the votes of their base supporters in the Pantura region to the horseshoe, eastern East Java.

“Both Risma and Luluk, both will erode Khofifah’s [voters] in their mass bases. So, initially Khofifah was relatively easy to be re-elected, now I don’t think kunjungi so, because there are overlaps [voters] with each other,” said Kacung when contacted by BBC News Indonesia journalist, Raja Eben Lumbanrau, Friday (30/08).

Regarding the potential for the incumbent’s votes which were said to be potentially ‘eroded’, the party supporting Khofifah-Emil admitted that they were not worried because their pair had power in almost all areas of East Java.

“We are very, very optimistic… We have a coalition of many parties that have different voter niches, of course those resources need to be collaborated well. We will mobilize the many volunteers from all over East Java [Mataraman, Arek, Madura, Pandalungan] to the maximum,” said Deputy Treasurer of the East Java Democratic Party DPD, Mahathir Mohamad.

BBC News Indonesia interviewed several residents in several areas in East Java, the largest province on the island of Java. A resident in Madura and Kediri Regency admitted that he would give his vote to Khofifah, but not to a supporter in Sidoarjo who supports Risma.

In the midst of the predicted competitive battle, the East Java Pilkada is also said to display political moderation, as shown by the fact that all gubernatorial candidates are women.

“Finally, the third track record will be a consideration for constituents [East Java] to determine their political choice,” said political sociology academic from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, Wahyudi Winaryo.

Variety of voters’ voices in East Java
There are three prospective candidate pairs (bapaslon) in the East Java Pilgub, namely Khofifah Indar Parawansa and Emil Elestianto Dardak who are supported by KIM Plus (minus PKB). Then the pair Tri Rismaharini and Zahrul Azhar Asumta who are supported by PDIP, the Hanura Party and the Ummat Party. Terakhir, duet Luluk Noor Hamida dan Lukmanul Khakim merupakan dua bintang murni PKB.

Tiga calon gubernur adalah perempuan.

BBC News Indonesia pun mencoba mewawancarai beberapa warga Jawa Timur untuk melihat pemimpin masa depan mereka.