JAKARTA : Indonesia's largest opposition party is making a strong comeback, and is confident of winning the country's parliamentary elections in 2009.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), led by former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, has resuscitated its party machinery, and won some local elections in recent months.

As the daughter of Indonesia's first President Sukarno, Megawati became a symbol of the struggle against Suharto's regime.

And not surprisingly, in 1999, during the first democratic elections after the fall of Suharto, her PDI-P party won a thumping victory, capturing more than 30 per cent of the votes.

But in the 2004 elections, her party crashed. It lost half of its votes and subsequently Megawati's presidency.

Pramono Anum, Secretary-General, Indonesia's PDI-P Party, said: "Our preparation for 2009 is different. After learning from our mistakes in 2004, we have consolidated our position, developed our image, improved our party machinery and put in place a system which is more transparent."

As the party's secretary-general, Mr Pramono has re-worked PDI-P's strategy - relying less on the Megawati factor.

He said: "We can't take away the fact that Megawati is PDI-P's leader. She is the unifying factor and a magnet. But she also realises that is not enough. Therefore, the need to have a party machinery works well. This is what we are developing."

PDI-P's efforts are beginning to bear fruit - winning several important local elections or Pilkada.

Several surveys also revealed its popularity is climbing, at times overtaking the ruling Golkar party, led by vice-president Jusuf Kalla.

Mr Pramono said: "Looking at the current situation, PDI-P is very solid. We have no internal conflict and party matters are being resolved openly because of the system that we've developed. We believe this is our initial capital as we enter the 2009 elections."

As Indonesia's biggest opposition party, PDI-P seems set to wrest control of the parliament after the April election, and push its leader Megawati for the presidency.

However, very few analysts believe the PDI-P will be able to match its 1999 victory - an ambitious target the party has set for itself.

None of the 34 contesting parties is expected to garner more than 25 per cent of the votes. PDI-P is slated to be among the three largest vote gatherers - together with Golkar and the Islamist Party, PKS.

This will put PDI-P in a commanding position to lead a coalition in the next parliament. - CNA/ms