Indonesia votes: Jokowi tipped to win in East Java despite changing dynamics

Indonesia will hold its presidential and legislative elections on April 17. With more than 192 million people eligible to vote, it will be the largest polls since direct elections were first held 15 years ago. The Straits Times reports on how the campaign is unfolding in key election battlegrounds across the vast archipelagic nation. Today, we look at East Java province.

Chilli vendor Binti Cholifah will be voting for the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin team. She says her family is a beneficiary of initiatives introduced by President Joko. Indonesia's vice-presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno signing a T-shirt for a supporter
Indonesia's vice-presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno signing a T-shirt for a supporter during an entrepreneurship event attended by thousands of mostly young people in Surabaya last month. Mr Sandiaga is Mr Prabowo Subianto's running mate. ST PHOTO: LINDA YULISMAN
Chilli vendor Binti Cholifah will be voting for the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin team. She says her family is a beneficiary of initiatives introduced by President Joko. Indonesia's vice-presidential candidate Sandiaga Uno signing a T-shirt for a supporter
Chilli vendor Binti Cholifah will be voting for the Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin team. She says her family is a beneficiary of initiatives introduced by President Joko. ST PHOTO: LINDA YULISMAN
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East Java was where the fabled battle of Surabaya - a turning point in the fight for Indonesia's independence - took place in 1945.

Today, the province which has 30.9 million voters is a key battleground for President Joko Widodo as he seeks a second term in office at the April 17 polls.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 04, 2019, with the headline Jokowi tipped to win in East Java despite changing dynamics. Subscribe