TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party has proposed Muhammad Taufik as deputy governor candidate to replace Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who will become Jakarta Governor after Jokowi is inaugurated as president.

Gerindra Party’s central executive board chief Desmond Junaedi Mahesa said the discussion to determine Jakarta deputy governor was long. Based on Law No. 32/2004 about Regional Government, the one who has the right to propose deputy governor candidate is the backing party. In the 2012 Regional Election, Jokowi and Ahok were put forward by the PDIP and the Gerindra Party.

Desmond said the backing party proposed one name through process of compromise. “We’re nominating Taufik. Does PDIP agree with this?” said he said on Sunday.

The process involves party officials in regional-level, which include PDIP’s regional board chairman Boy Sadikin and Gerindra’s regional board chief Muhammad Taufik. If the process reaches deadlock, each party will propose names to be brought to election in the council.

The nomination of Taufik seemed to dismiss Ahok’s statement that had introduced Nachrowi Ramli as the deputy governor that would replace him. However, Desmond said the discussion about deputy governor should not be made a scene. “Jokowi hasn’t resigned. Ahok has also not been inaugurated,” he said.

Meanwhile, Taufik said that he had not received mandate from Gerindra’s executive board regarding his nomination as Jakarta deputy governor. He also has not received his nomination letter as deputy governor.

However, if it is true that he is proposed as deputy governor, he said that he would be ready. “As a party cadre, I am ready to receive order from the center,” he said, adding that he is likely to win if the voting mechanism is in the council. “Majority of us is in the council.”

ERWAN HERMAWAN