Indonesia presidential contender Ganjar takes slim lead in new poll

Ganjar Pranowo, presidential candidate of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), and his running mate, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Indonesian chief security minister, known as Mahfud MD, pose for photographs after registering themselves, at the election commission headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian presidential hopeful Ganjar Pranowo led an opinion poll on Monday for the first time since election season formally got underway last month, nudging ahead of close rival and defence minister Prabowo Subianto.

The Oct. 26-31 survey by Charta Politika showed 36.8% of the 2,400 respondents backed the ruling party's Ganjar while 34.7% supported Prabowo, with 24.3% in favour of Anies Baswedan, Jakarta's former governor.