FIVE PROVINCES BACK MALLARANGENG'S BID FOR DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMANSHIP

Medan, N Sumatra, April 25 (ANTARA) - Regional branches of the ruling Democratic Party from five provinces in Sumatra declared their support at a meeting here on Saturday night for Andi Mallarangeng's bid for the party chairmanship for the 2010-2015 period.

Nahrowi Ramli, chief of Andi Mallarangeng's success team, said the meeting was attended by representatives of the party's 33 branches in North Sumatra, 23 of 24 branches in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, 12 branches in Riau, eight branches in Riau Islands and five of seven branches in Bangka Belitung.

"A total of 81 district branches and five provincial branches are present at this meeting," he said.

Also present were lawmaker Edhi Baskoro Yudhoyono, son of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and members of Andi Mallarangeng's success team, including Ramadhan Pohan, Agusrin M. Najamuddin, M. Azhari, Cornell Simbolon, Edi Ramli Sitanggang and Raditio Gambiru.

"The support is a manifestation of our togetherness to get Andi Mallarangeng elected in the next congress," Palar Nainggolan, chief of the party's provincial branch in North Sumatra, said.

Andi Mallarangeng, currently youth and sports minister and the party's deputy chairman, said the support from the party's regional branches had shored up his confidence to lead the race for the party chairmanship.

"So far we have gained support from about 80 percent of the party's regional branches across the country. The support has shored up our confidence to lead the race for the party's top post," he said.
Andi Mallarangeng officially declared his bid for the party's chairmanship last month. He will be challenged by other party deputy chairmen, including House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie and House Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum.

The new party chairman will be elected at the party's national congress scheduled for May 21-23 in Bandung, West Java.