Jokowi ends campaign trail in Pacitan

JAKARTA. Jakarta Governor, and presidential hopeful, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ended his campaign trail in East Java in Pacitan, the hometown of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

“This was a form of silaturahmi [visit]. Two weeks ago Pak SBY visited my hometown of Surakarta, so why not visit Pacitan in return?” Jokowi said on Monday at Gasibu Sports Center after a briefing for the event.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is targeting more than 27 percent of the vote in the usual stronghold of the Democratic Party, according to Jokowi.

“I have a good feeling we will achieve our target in East Java,” he added.

The PDI-P presidential candidate kicked off the East Java tour in Malang, talking to thousands of supporters in Mulyorejo, Sukun, Malang regency. Jokowi continued the campaign trail to Ngawi, Magetan and Ponorogo.

During his stop in Ngawi, Jokowi visited the house of Radjiman Widiodiningrat, the founder of Budi Utomo — the first youth organization in the country — and a political mentor to founding father Sukarno. He also stopped and got off the car to talk to a number of farmers planting rice near Radjiman’s house.

Jokowi squatted and held rice seedlings the farmers had given him and asked questions regarding the planting and harvesting process. The picture of Jokowi talking to the farmers bears a strong resemblance to that of Sukarno squatting while talking to farmer Marhaen, who inspired his popular ideology of Marhaenism. (nvn)