"Whisnu already has the ability to become a leader in formulating and deciding on policies," Agus Machfud Fauzi, Surabaya State University's (Unesa's) political sociologist, told ANTARA here on Saturday.
Buana along with serving as Surabaya's deputy mayor for some two terms, had also served as chair of the DPC of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) for two terms.
Moreover, at the recent Branch Work Meeting (Rakercab) of the PDIP Surabaya DPC, 31 PDIP Surabaya PAC had concurred on submitting the name of Buana for holding the post of chairman of the PDIP Surabaya DPC for the third time, or for the 2020-2025 period.
"However, the shortcomings are usually attributed to the centralistic PDIP in determining candidates," he pointed out.
Moreover, he noted that the city's residents will find it difficult to accept Buana, if he failed to present himself as the successor of Mayor Rismaharini.
"Surabaya's residents like Ms. Risma for her hard work, outspoken nature, and prompt decision-making skills," Chair of the Center for New Social and Media Change Studies or Chief Editor of The Journal of Society & Media stated.
Until now, several political elites that the city's residents have frequently heard as potential successors of the incumbent mayor are Buana from the PDIP, Zahrul Azhar As'ad and Adies Kadir from Golkar, Vincent from the National Democratic Party (Nasdem), Reni Astuti from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Fandi Utomo from the National Awakening Party (PKB), Bambang Haryo from the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), M. Machmud from the Democrats, as well as Andy Budiman and Dhimas Anugrah from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI)
Bureaucrats whose names appeared for the Surabaya mayor's post are Surabaya City Secretary Hendro Gunawan and Head of the Surabaya City Development Planning Agency (Bappeko) Eri Cahyadi. Moreover, support for Advocate M. Sholeh as potential candidate for the Surabaya mayor's post too emerged few days ago. (*)
