TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The general chairperson of the ruling Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Sukarnoputri, urged the people on Wednesday to work harder to bring victory to Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat in the run-off election next month.

Megawati made the personal request before hundreds of supporters and volunteers of Basuki-Djarot duo at Rumah Lembang in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

"Thank God, we won the first round, but we still lack votes (to win majority). Hence, I urge you to be ready for the second round by campaigning to make Pak (Mr) Basuki, also popularly called Ahok, and Pak Djarot gain victory," she remarked.

The former president thanked all the people in Jakarta, especially mothers, who have striven hard to make people vote for the victory of the two candidates.

"Of course, I have to thank all residents, especially mothers. I am convinced that if mothers unite, no one will be able to defeat us. We will certainly win," she stated.

Regarding her visit to Rumah Lembang that day, Megawati noted that Rumah Lembang is not only a command post for volunteers and supporters of Basuki-Djarot but also for the entire population of Jakarta.

"Today, I was invited by Basuki and Djarot (to come here). Rumah Lembang is not only a command post but also the home of the people of Jakarta. Therefore, we have to be able to share time with the candidates to meet the people," she stressed.

The Jakarta General Election Commission has declared Basuki-Djarot as well as Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno as passing the first round of the election. Therefore, the two pairs would compete in the run-off election scheduled on April 19.

Campaign for the second round election started on March 7 and will last until April 15, before entering a cooling-down period until April 18 ahead of the vote.

Three pairs had competed for the gubernatorial election, but Agus Harimurti, the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who competed with former Jakarta administration official Sylviana Murni as his running mate, failed to pass the first round.

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylvina Murni only garnered 937,955 votes or 17.07 percent of the total, while Ahok-Djarot garnered 2,364,577 votes or 42.99 percent, and Anies-Sandiaga won 2,197,333 votes or 39.95 percent.

ANTARA