35th NU Congress: The Babussalam Axis Emerges, a Gamble at the Election Rules Plenary
Polarization ahead of the peak of the 35th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress in Jombang is getting more intense. In the middle of the fight between incumbent KH Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) and supporters of KH Abdul Hakim Mahfudz (Gus Kikin), the Babussalam axis has popped up, pushing a middle way (tawassuth). This axis was initiated by a number of kiai who run major Islamic boarding schools, a response to worries about confrontations that are getting stronger both at the congress and after it wraps up.
The Babussalam axis brings the idea of not sticking with a leadership setup they see as the center of conflict, which includes PBNU Rais Aam KH Miftachul Akhyar, PBNU Secretary General Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), and Gus Yahya. The rise of this axis is tied to growing dynamics, including alleged intimidation and unethical practices during the vetting process. KH Asep Saifuddin Chalim claimed there were instructions to pick certain names in exchange for money, though this hasn't been independently proven.
The Plenary Session discussing the election rules is becoming super crucial. There's a split between the camp that wants the AHWA selection process reopened freely and secretly, and the camp that wants to stick with the previous selection results. AHWA holds a strategic position because it will decide the Rais Aam before the PBNU Chairman for the 2026–2031 period is elected.
If the two main camps have strong voter bases, the Babussalam axis could turn the contest into a three-way race. The congress won't just decide who the Chairman and Rais Aam will be, but also whether NU chooses continuity, change through one of the camps, or a third path via the tawassuth axis. The answer will really be determined in the plenary sessions, which are the gateway to tonight's final decision.
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