SURABAYA (Yosefardi) – The local election commission (KPUD) of Surabaya city decided to eliminate the pair of Rasiyo-Dimam Abror Djuraid after the verification process leaving the city election with only one pair of contender.
The KPUD Surabaya argued that a recommendation letter from political parties to Rasiyo-Dimam Abror Djuraid pair submitted to the KPUD on Aug. 19, is not identical with previous recommendation letter submitted to the KPUD when the pair registered themselves on Aug. 11. Other than that, the KPUD found that Abror didn’t submit a letter explaining that he’s free from tax debt.
Rasiyo-Dimam Abror Djuraid pair registered themselves to the KPUD with support from a coalition of Democratic Party and PAN. Both Democratic Party and PAN reportedly will file an appeal to the local election supervisory body (Panwaslu).
The KPUD’s decision then caused the incumbent candidate Tri Rismaharini without contender. Mayor Risma re-enters the election with her running mate Wisnu Sakti Buana. The incumbent pair is supported by PDI-P.
Surabaya is one of 269 regions that will hold regional elections simultaneously on Dec. 9, 2015. But the election in Surabaya city might be postponed to February 2017 should there remain only one pair of candidates to contest in the race. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)