Revisiting the power of Kyai in determining Indonesia local political leaders: a Case from regent election in Situbondo and Gresik

The article analyzes the kyai’s political roles in the 2020 Head of the Region Election in two areas in Situbondo and Gresik. This paper analyzes the kyai’s source of political power which becomes a political bargaining power with political parties in determining who is to be elected as head of the region candidates and how to win the election. The analysis results show the kyai’s strong influential power in directing the head of the regional election. It is so strong that political parties do not seldom comply with the kyai’s requests on who should be selected as a candidate, even though their choices differ from the political parties’ wishes. When opposing a party’s decision, a kyai will build opposition power fronts by using the pesantren network and by collaborating with local political figures. However, the source of Kyai’s strength has shifted and does not apply the same in other areas.