Jakarta. Gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung expressed little concern on Tuesday about his standing in the polls, where he lags significantly behind rival Ridwan Kamil with less than two months remaining before the election.

Pramono emerged as a last-minute choice for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the Jakarta gubernatorial race. His nomination was quietly announced by a party official following the opening of the candidate registration period on August 27.

In contrast, PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri held separate media events earlier to introduce the party's candidates for other provinces with greater fanfare.

Currently serving as cabinet secretary in President Joko Widodo's administration, Pramono said he intends to use the remaining time to connect with voters alongside his running mate, former Banten Governor Rano Karno.

"I’ve said before that I’m not too worried about my electability. Both Rano and I are fighters, and we will work tirelessly to engage with voters and present programs that address the aspirations we’ve gathered from the people," Pramono said.

He underlined his commitment to continuing outreach efforts with various community groups across Jakarta to better understand their concerns and collaboratively explore solutions.

According to Pramono, his "problem-solving approach" offers more value than campaign rallies or making "grandiose promises."

Pramono has maintained a low public profile during his time in the cabinet and rarely accepted a request for media interview, although he is well-regarded as a close confidant of President Joko Widodo.

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