A third alliance may emerge to contest Indonesia's presidential election next year, which until recently had largely been expected to be a two-way battle between President Joko Widodo and Gerindra Party chief Prabowo Subianto.

Political analysts and insiders told The Straits Times this week that two Islamic parties, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), are trying to prise the National Awakening Party (PKB) away from Mr Joko's coalition to form their own ticket.