Democratic Party Mobilizes Thousands of People in Tulungagung Campaign

Tulungagung, East Java (Antara) - The Democratic Party (PD) mobilized tens of thousands of people to attend its grand campaign led by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here, on Tuesday. Trenggalek sent 12 buses carrying the party's cadres and sympathizers to attend the campaign in Tulungagung, Demang of the party's Trenggalek chapter, stated. The central board of the Democratic Party in Jakarta has instructed its chapters in East Java to mobilize cadres and supporters to the campaign. In addition to Tulungagung, the audience came from Blitar, Trenggalek, Kediri, Ponorogo and Pacitan. Tulungagung Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Whisnu Hermawan Februanto pointed out that around 28 thousand people attended the campaign. On Monday, the second day of the pre-parliamentary election campaign period (March 17-April 5), Yudhoyono, the current president, who is on a leave, delivered a 20-minute oration during the Democratic Party's campaign event. "I ask you to vote for Democratic Party at number seven to keep moving forward, instead of backward, for another five years ahead," Yudhoyono remarked. Yudhoyono, who came to Bantul with his wife Ani Yudhoyono and son Edhie Baskoro, also asked his supporters to stay with Democratic Party in order to ensure the progress and continuity of the people-oriented program initiated during the two periods of his governance. The founder and chairman of the Democratic Party claimed that his party was doing real action, instead of making empty promises. He also expressed his optimism that his party could become a strong and modern party that could protect the nation. The Bantul event was Yudhoyono's first campaign event after he cancelled his participation in his party's campaign in Magelang, Central Java, on Sunday (March 16) due to his presidential work of heading the haze disaster mitigation efforts in Riau. (*)