Basuki Tjahaja Purnama will run for re-election as Governor of Jakarta next year. (Antara Photo/M Agung Rajasa)

Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama confirmed that he will run as an independent, choosing a senior city official as his running mate instead of his current political party member deputy.

Basuki chose the city's Agency for Finance and Assets Management (BPKAD) Chairman Heru Budihartono due to his good performance during his time working as the city civil servant.

According to Basuki, Heru bravely supports transparency in the provincial budget planning and use, indicating his anti-corruption attitude. By running with Heru, Basuki also wants to show the public that there are still several Jakarta civil servants with clean and professional working performance that others can look up to.

The governor earlier expressed his interest to keep his current deputy Djarot Saiful Hidayat citing good chemistry, but the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) of which Djarot is a member, has shown no sign of supporting Basuki's reelection bid.

Djarot said he appreciated the decision.

“I have been already informed. It is okay, it is his [Basuki's] right to do so. Besides, if he still wants me [as his vice governor], he has to talk to the party,” Djarot said.