REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SALATIGA -- Presidential candidate number 3 Ganjar Pranowo believes that the Grand Administrator of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) can maintain its neutrality in the 2024 general election.
“I believe PBNU can maintain neutrality wholeheartedly and honestly,” Ganjar said after meeting with Central Java Regional Authorities Team (TPD), Salatiga Branch Settlement Team (TPC), Coalition Party Legislative Candidates, and Salatiga City Volunteers at Korpri Sidomukti Building, Salatiga City on Tuesday.
Ganjar said it was responding to statements by NU scholar Nadirsyah Hosen (Gus Nadir) regarding NU's internal mobilization in support of presidential candidate and vice president number 2 Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
“I haven't heard [the statement]. But, by the time of the anniversary, there are already codes, but we politicians understand. The taste of that NU is everywhere,” he said
.
Ganjar also believed that PBNU General Chairman Kiai Haji Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) would exercise that neutrality.
“I know him. He can place his neutrality. If NU cadres are everywhere, they have that choice already,” he said.
Earlier, the Nahdlatul Ulama Besar (PBNU) suspended 63 daily and plenary administrators for advancing as candidates for legislative members (candidates) and joining the successful team of presidential and vice presidential candidates in 2024 elections.
Vice Chairman General for Organization, Membership, and Caderization of PBNU Amin Said Husni in Jakarta, Sunday (21/1), explained that the deactivation policy was listed in Decree (SK) No. 285/PB.01/A.II.01.08/99/01/2024.
“They are spread across several parties and (being the successful team of) all the presidential candidates. Some serve as mustasars, daily administrators of sharia and tanfidziyah, a'wan shuriyah, to administrators of autonomous bodies and institutions,” Amin Said Husni said in an official PBNU
broadcast.
Amin explained that the status of the 63 administrators is considered inactive from the date of determination by the competent institutions until the completion of the 2024 election stage.
On Tuesday, Ganjar campaigned in a number of areas in Central Java province, namely Salatiga City, Kendal Regency, and Sukoharjo Regency.
From Salatiga City, Ganjar headed to Kendal Regency to meet with Manbaul Hikmah Pesantren Pondok Nurse KH Suyuthi Murtadlo in Padolengan, Mororejo, Kaliwungu District, Kendal Regency.
After that, Ganjar is scheduled to have a dialogue with the fishermen at 14.45 pm, then attend the Kendal People's Party at Sambong Sari Village Square, Weleri District, Kendal Regency, at 16.00 pm.
At 17.10 pm, Ganjar will sowan to KH Danil Rouyan, Rois Syria Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) at 146 Tamanan Road, Tamanan, Tamangede, Gemuh District, Kendal Regency.
Ending his activities in Central Java, at 20.20 pm, Ganjar attended the Sukoharjo Folk Party at Joho Sukoharjo Square, Sawah, Joho, Sukoharjo Regency. After the activity, as usual, Ganjar will stay overnight at the residents' house.
KPU RI has appointed three pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates to be participants in the 2024 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election, namely Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair number 1, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka number 2, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD sequence number 3.
The Commission has also set a campaign period from 28 November 2023 to 10 February 2024. Then, schedule the vote on February 14, 2024.