"We call on PPP cadres throughout Madura and East Java to vote for Suryadharma Ali`s nomination for party chief at the upcoming congress," chief of PPP`s chapter in East Java Musaffak Noer said here on Sunday.
The support was intended to avoid an internal rift ahead of 2014 general elections, he said adding Suryadharma Ali who is now religious affairs minister was a leader capable of pushing up the party`s vote gains and cooperating with all groups.
"So far there has been no competent cadre to replace Suryadharma Ali as PPP general chief. So he deserves to chair PPP again so the party`s vote gains in the upcoming elections will increase," he said.
He expressed hope that PPP cadres in Madura would not be divided to support Suryadharma Ali`s bid for a second term at the upcoming congress.
Suryadharma Ali`s fierce competition is expected to come from Ahmad Muqqowam, chief of the House Commission for agriculture and plantation, and Muchdi Purwoprandjono, former deputy chief of the state intelligence board.(*)
(S012/b003/S012)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
