Indonesia goes to polls

World's third largest democracy and and the country with most Muslim population Indonesia is holding presidential and legislative elections on Wednesday. Nearly 193 million people will cast their votes in an estimated 8,00,000 polling stations  across 17,000 islands that is Indonesia.

Hyderabad:On Wednesday, April 17 the world's third largest democracy and and the country with most Muslim population is holding presidential and legislative elections. Nearly 193 million people will cast their votes in an estimated 8,00,000 polling stations across 17,000 islands that is Indonesia.

There are two contenders - the incumbent President Joko Widodo and former army general Prabowo Subianto. As of now Widodo is ahead of his rival according to opinion polls, but the lead is not very assuring and Widodo's chances may tilt in favour of Prabowo as Widodo courts a Muslim hardliner as his running mate and thereby antagonises many of his supporters who might abstain from voting.

The issues in the Indonesian polls are primarily two - one is leaning towards the conservative Muslims more and the second is Chinese investments. As far as courting the hardline Muslims is concerned, there is not much difference between the two Presidential aspirants. Widodo went to Mecca recently in an apparent bid to show the conservative Muslims back home that he is with them. In a further attempt to win this section over he has chosen Maruf Amin, a known hardliner and a strong polarising person as his running mate. Prabowo on the other hand openly espouses the causes of hardliners.

Their agenda primarily differs on the issue of Chinese investments in Indonesia. Joko Widodo brought the Chinese for largescale investments in the country's infrastructure esp.in the railway that links Jakarta and Java. But concerned voices are raised as to the country's growing dependence on China. The fear that Indonesia might eventually get into a debt trap in the long run and lose its freedom looms large in the minds of many Indonesians. Besides as China sends its workers and labours for work in the projects and does not hire local people, it causes much resentments among people.

Prabowo wants to put an end to Chinese investments. He declares that once he is in power he will stop all imports and make Indonesia's economy self-sufficient and sustainable. This promise goes down well with many Indonesians.

If Joko Widodo comes back, it will be both China and Muslim conservatives. If Prabowo makes it, it will be minus China and Muslim conservatives, surely more of such conservatism than what Widodo might prop up.

So post poll results, it is not very certain how the Indonesian economy will be doing in the coming years but one thing is fairly certain. Indonesia will be more Muslim than it is now and the country's secular democracy will take a hit on account of that.