Jakarta. Senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Ganjar Pranowo said Sunday that anyone, including Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Kaesang Pangarep, son of former Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, has the right to run for parliament, dismissing suggestions that Kaesang's planned candidacy poses a threat to the party's electoral dominance in Central Java.

"Everyone has the right, and the state guarantees citizens' right to participate in government. Anyone can run," Ganjar told reporters at PDI-P headquarters in Jakarta.

Ganjar was responding to Kaesang's announcement that he intends to contest a seat in the House of Representatives from Central Java's Electoral District V in the 2029 general election.

The constituency, which covers Surakarta (Solo), Sukoharjo, Klaten and Boyolali, has long been considered a PDI-P stronghold and is represented by PDI-P Chairwoman Puan Maharani, the daughter of party matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Ganjar brushed aside suggestions that Kaesang's candidacy amounts to a direct challenge to PDI-P.

"How is running for office a challenge? Anyone can run. I'm still confident Central Java is the Bulls' home turf," he said, referring to the party's bull symbol.

Kaesang announced his parliamentary bid during a PSI regional coordination meeting in Solo on Saturday, telling party members he would campaign alongside local cadres ahead of the 2029 election.

"The message I delivered was not as party chairman, but as a prospective legislative candidate for Central Java's Electoral District V. God willing, I will stand alongside all our cadres, especially those in Solo," Kaesang said.

The move sets the stage for a symbolic political contest in one of Indonesia's most closely watched electoral battlegrounds, where PDI-P has traditionally enjoyed overwhelming support.

Puan first won a parliamentary seat from the district in the 2009 election, securing more than 242,000 votes before going on to become one of the country's most influential politicians.

Kaesang's candidacy also underscores the continuing political split between President Jokowi's family and PDI-P, the party that propelled Jokowi to the presidency.

Jokowi, his eldest son and current Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution all built their political careers under the PDI-P banner.

That relationship began to unravel ahead of the 2024 presidential election when Jokowi backed Gibran as the running mate of Prabowo Subianto rather than supporting PDI-P's nominee, Ganjar Pranowo. Prabowo and Gibran went on to win the election, deepening the rift between Jokowi's family and PDI-P.

Kaesang further distanced himself from the party in September 2023 by joining PSI and immediately assuming its chairmanship instead of entering politics through PDI-P, ending the family's long-standing formal ties with the country's largest opposition party.

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