Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) confirmed that he has yet to receive a resignation letter from Social Service Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa who will run for the post of East Java governor.

"I have not received it," he said after opening the national congress of the Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama here on Thursday.

A coalition of the Democrat Party, People`s Conscience Party, National Democratic Party, Golkar Party, and United Development Party has nominated Khofifah as East Java governor for the 2018-2023 term.

The president said he will not issue any statement unless he has received a resignation letter from Khofifah.

"I cannot answer it before she comes to me to hand over her official letter," he said.

Khofifah is expected to pick Emil Dardak as her running mate for the East Java gubernatorial election next year.

Born in Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province, Khofifah has twice lost in the East Java gubernatorial elections in 2008 and 2013.

During the 2018 gubernatorial election, she will compete with Syaifullah Yusuf, who is now vice governor of East Java. Syaifullah has been nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the National Awakening Party.

Reported by Hanni Sofia Soepardi
(T.S012/B/KR-BSR/A014)

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017