Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta Governor Joko Widodos active involvement in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggles (PDIP) campaign trail would not disrupt his gubernatorial duties, a PDIP executive board member said.

"Jokowis campaign trail will not disrupt his gubernatorial duties because he becomes the PDIP campaigner only on Saturday and Sunday," PDIP Deputy Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto told newsmen here on Sunday.

Joko Widodo, whose popular nickname is Jokowi and has been mandated by PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri as her partys presidential candidate, backed the partys first campaigns in Jakarta on Sunday.

Along with several top PDIP executive board members, he visited a number of historic places in the capital city to meet the partys cadres and supporters, such as the National Awakening Museum in Central Jakarta on Sunday.

Based on the partys agenda, Jokowi would, among others, stage campaigns at the Youth Oath Building, the Budi Utomo Building, the traditional market near the Pola and Cenderawasih buildings.

Jokowi himself did not talk too much as Effendi did. It was planned that Jokowi would make oration at Cenderawasih Museum in West Jakarta.

Kristiyanto said his party would not assign Jokowi to join the campaign trail on weekday because it did not want to interrupt his gubernatorial duties.

"So, assuming that Jokowis involvement in the partys campaign trail will disrupt his official duties is completely not true," he said.

Jokowi was officially nominated as the PDIPs presidential candidate last Friday to compete in the presidential election on July 9.

Referring to recent survey outcomes, political analysts believe that Jokowis candidacy will help increase PDIPs votes in the legislative elections, due to be held on April 9.

Reported by Sella Panduarsa Gareta
(T.R013/b003/B003)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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