PPP Chairman Fails to Attend Gathering in Bojonegoro

Bojonegoro, E Java (Antara) - General Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Suryadharma Ali failed to attend a religious gathering at Ponpes Abu Darrin Islamic boarding school on Sunday. It was reported earlier that the PPP chairman who is also Indonesia's religious affairs minister, attended the gathering on Sunday. However, according to the latest report, Surayadharma Ali failed to attend the event because his helicopter was unable to fly at night. "The plan of Surayadhyarma Ali to attend the event is cancelled because his helicopter could not fly at night," PPP Branch Secretary for Bojonegoro Khoirul Anam said here on Sunday. He said earlier that the (planned) presence of Suryadharma Ali at Ponpes Abu Darrin was not to conduct a campaign but to attend a religious study activity. He explained that PPP would not organize a public debate campaign there which was PPP's electoral I region based on the General Election Commission (PKU)'s schedule. A total of 12 political parties kicked off a nationwide campaign on Sunday which will last until April 5, for a legislative election on April 9 next month. The political parties include the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP), the Golkar Party (Golkar), and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra). The remaining ones are the Democratic Party (Demokrat), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI). (*)