Both candidates signed a declaration of peace on Monday, two days before Jakartans go to the ballot box, but many fear racial discrimination and religious labeling - which have colored the election campaign - will continue until after the election.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Unofficial results showed the minority Christian governor of the Indonesian capital was resoundingly defeated Wednesday by his Muslim challenger who swept up votes by appealing to a growing conservatism in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
"We should forget the difference".
Despite Purnama's first-round victory, Baswedan had been seen as the favourite in the run-off because the votes from a third, Muslim, candidate who was knocked out were expected to go to him.
Basuki said the election has highlighted the "conflicted conscience within the Indonesian voter" and has paved the way for political parties to utilise religion and hoax news in the future. "What I want from a governor is someone who can deliver good results, anti-corruption, firms with all regulations so that we can have a better Jakarta", she said.
Some businesses had favoured Purnama for his perceived ability to execute key infrastructure projects, but analysts say his defeat may not necessarily undermine President Joko Widodo's goal to build roads, ports and power plants. "Remember, we are all brothers and sisters". The Indonesian leader, a close ally of Ahok's, has been vocal in his support for the governor during the campaign.
While numbers varied, quick counts of the election by a number of sources including the national newspaper the Jakarta Post, MetroTV and the online website Kompas, all had Baswedan comfortably ahead.
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A Baswedan win will be seen as a major blow to Jokowi.
"There is no doubt the blasphemy trial was hurting him", said Ross Tapsell, an Indonesia researcher at Australia National University College of Asia and the Pacific. This picture of Mr Purnama shaking hands with King Salman when he arrived in Jakarta early March. was condemned as false on social media even though it was captured by the Indonesian president's official photographer.
"(This) election campaign. (has) been the dirtiest, most polarizing and most divisive the nation has ever seen, far worse than that for the 2014 Presidential election", the newspaper's editorial said Wednesday. Baswedan has played a risky game in attempting to appeal to conservative Muslim voters, even going so far as to meet with the FPI in a move that shocked those who had seen him as a moderate Muslim politician.
This has been one of Indonesia's most polarising elections, plagued with street protests and attempted coups against the central government, as well as Basuki standing trial for blasphemy after he was charged for insulting Islam last September. For example, when hardliners staged various big demonstrations in Jakarta over the past couple of months, the protestors numbered "only" a couple of hundred of thousands of people. There are concerns that Ahok could be reelected as Jakarta governor only to face jail.
Mr Purnama is now on trial on blasphemy charges.
"It seems like the court was waiting". Prosecutors are due to recommend a sentence on Thursday, and a verdict is expected within weeks.
Casting his vote alongside his wife and son this morning, Ahok wrote on that today's vote would determine Jakarta's fate, and that democracy should be celebrated.
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