Politics of Religious Identity in General Elections Regional Head of Sigi District, Central Sulawesi Province

The aim of this research is to look at the politics of religious affiliation in Sigi Regency's direct regional head elections in 2010 and 2015. The majority of adherents of faith, namely the Muslim and Protestant Christian communities, are represented in the political reality of the community in Sigi Regency. In the elections for the Regent and Deputy Regent of Sigi Regency, the opportunity for population allocation based on the two faiths has become a political instrument to take power. During two cycles of direct regional head elections in Sigi Regency, the state of population characteristics of religious affiliation trends became electoral consumption by political elites. This study employs a qualitative descriptive method. According to research, religious affiliation is a fair concern in winning provincial head elections in 2010 and 2015, as well as a way of political balance representing the two religions' cultures.


Introduction
Indonesia is an excellent example of a great modern society in which authoritarian creativity has flourished in the guise of highly praised electoral democracy (Mietzner, 2020). In order to maintain political stability, it is critical to investigate the differences between identity politics in Indonesia in order to draw a common thread from existing differences. Indonesia has demonstrated that unity can be maintained from independence to the present day as a country with diverse backgrounds (Y. S. Lestari, 2018). On the one hand, Indonesia's cultural diversity has the potential to create a large national community, but it also has the potential to be a divider and a source of lateral tensions, even in democracy (Nego & Enim, 2020). During the Srivijaya and Majapahit periods, history shows that the ancestors of the Indonesian nation had achieved their zenith and were on their way to become a prosperous country in the world. This means that our forefathers were effective in overcoming different challenges of distinction and in turning diversity's potential into strength in order to achieve change and excellence (Hamid, 2018). We Indonesians no longer address problems and challenges based on the national, cultural, or religious identities of each ethnic, cultural, or religious group, but rather on the basis of Pancasila, which ensures that all Indonesians and all cultures in Indonesia, whether majority or minority, Identity politics are used by populism as part of a political strategy to win elections, especially general elections (Ardipandanto, 2020). Elections for Governors, Regents, and Mayors, referred to as Regional Head Elections (RHE), are the exercise of people's sovereignty in Provinces, Regencies, and Cities to directly and democratically elect Regional Heads (D. Lestari, 2019). The right to vote in general elections is the only political right that the voters do have. After that, all of the people's civil privileges are passed to political parties (Ali, 2020). The timing of regional head polls, on the other hand, became a catalyst for bringing together different political interests and institutions that were concentrating in the midst of the continuing crisis. These political preferences can be touchy subjects, or they can be used by other couples to win more votes (Daulay et al., 2019).
Most urban political elites used an identity politics tactic during the district head polls . In this way, contemporary identity politics relies on a conceptualization of identity focused on descriptive features including colour, gender, and faith. As a result, it marks a major shift away from class-based politics, in which political strife is fueled by economic problems like redistribution and government scale (Noury & Roland, 2020). The politicization of mutual identities or feelings of 'connectedness,' which are the primary basis for the glue of group collectivity, is at the heart of identity politics (Abdullah, 2017). Political issues of Ethnicity, Religion, Race, and Intergroups (ERRI) have emerged as a major issue in regional head elections (Triantoro, 2017). The politics of religious identity is the most influential (Arsyad & Asdar A.B., 2019) in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province.
The character of the people of Sigi Regency, which has two religious majority adherents of other faiths, is the political choice of the population in electing candidates based on religious affiliation. A population of about 136,148 Muslims, or 62.90 percent of the population, and 80,809 Protestant Christians, or 36.90 percent, follow these faiths. Meanwhile, Catholics account for 1,839 people (0.84 percent), Hindus for 125 people (0.06 percent), and Buddhists for 84 people (0.04 percent) of the total population of 224,214 people in Sigi Regency. With this in view, it's no surprise that we have such pronounced political divides (Berry et al., 2019). The disparate outcomes of the two crises shape a mystery that lends credence to the explanation (Börzel & Risse, 2018).
As a result, the Sigi Regency community's population is focused on religious affiliation, as if the community is forming loyalty and cultural political agreement. Whereas, in the direct district head elections in 2015, candidates for regional head of Sigi Regency should be nominated depending on the number of religious adherents. Religious followers of a higher population are crowned regents, while others of the following order are named deputy regents. This social fact serves as a reminder that two candidates with the identities of two separate faiths, namely Islam and Christianity, will win direct provincial head elections by merging their identities. Since these meanings and images are constantly repeated in the public domain, this prevalent discourse emerges (Yennie Lindgren & Lindgren, 2017).
This composition can be seen in the direct regional head elections in 2010 which consisted of six pairs, namely Aswadin Randa Lembah (Islam) -Livingstone Sango (Christian), Rizali Djaelangkara However, joint requests from government can only be made if the government has a working idea of the kind of collectivity it is dealing with (Acton, 2018). It has been difficult for this country to break free from its religious identity due to its long history. As a result, it is difficult to establish a dichotomy of faith and citizenship, both in terms of national and state life as well as everyday social interactions (Muthohirin, 2019). According to this viewpoint, religion is mostly concerned with moral claims and an interpretation of the proper social order. Religion is thought to be more 'normative thick' and static than race (Valbjørn, 2019). As a result, it is critical to place faith and the state in an optimal position such that general elections run smoothly and do not undermine the country's democratic spirit (Saputro, 2019).
The basic premise is to campaign for a figure to run for regional head of Sigi Regency in a direct election focused on religious affiliation. What matters more than winning the fight is the efficiency of the leader (representation). By electing a candidate based on religious affiliation, the supportive party of fellow religious beliefs feels mentally and politically represented by their vote. As a result of this social fact, the researchers are interested in learning more about the religious identity politics in Sigi Regency

Methods
Identity politics becomes a challenge or a "sexy" subject worthy of more study and analysis (Fautanu et al., 2020). This essay focuses on identification since, although it is critical, it has received little coverage (Kaasik-Krogerus, 2020). Field analysis is used in this method of study (field research).
In field studies, researchers speak with and observe the individuals they are studying on an individual basis (Process & Civilization, 2020) via the use of observation techniques and in-depth interviews, as well as Focus Group Discussion (FGD), relevant information in the form of comments, attitudes, and activities will be evaluated as a relevant unit of information focused on this research sample. Although the interviews were semi-structured, I often let the dialogue and story emerge naturally (Rudwick, 2018). This thesis uses a qualitative methodology including a case study approach, as well as literature reviews and the most recent evidence gathered from multiple exploratory social elements (Hasbullah, 2021). The method is to interpret the context of the data gathered by paying attention to and documenting as many facets of the case under investigation at the moment as possible (Ahsan et al., 2020). As a result, this analysis method is descriptive (Pasinringi et al., 2020).
This research, edits data and information to parties who are trustworthy, neutral, and have high integrity. The categories of resource persons and informants who are appropriate and competent in providing data, facts, and information include: Members of the Sigi Regional People's Representative Council (RPRC), Village Heads, Sub-District Heads, Regional Head Election Committee (HEC); Political Party Cadres and Regional Head Candidate Success Team; Print media Newspapers and press figures; Commissioner of GEC Sigi and Secretary of Kesbangpol Sigi; and community leaders of the Muslim Religion and Protestant Christian communities. This research took place in Sigi Regency. Information retrieval both quantitative and qualitative data in the main cantons of both Muslim and Christian communities in Sigi Biromaru and Marawola districts as the base of the Islamic community, Kulawi district and Pipikoro district as the basis for Protestant Christian citizens.

Results and Discussion
Sigi Regency is one of Central Sulawesi Province's administrative districts, situated not far from Palu, the capital city. Pipikoro, Kulawi Selatan, Kulawi, Lindu, Nokilalaki, Palolo, Gumbasa, Dolo Selatan, Dolo Barat, Tanambulava, Dolo, Sigi Biromaru, Marawola, Marawola Barat, and Kinovaro are the nine districts that make up the Sigi Regency. The population of Sigi Regency is 226,876 inhabitants, divided into 9 sub-districts. Sigi Biromaru sub-district, with a population of 45,218 people, is the most heavily inhabited, followed by Palolo sub-district, with 28,888 people, and West Marawola sub-district, with 6,734 people.  (Marchlewska et al., 2018). For the distribution of population based on religious identity in Sigi Regency, it can be seen on the map of the Sigi Regency area below: The segmentation of the people of Sigi Regency based on two religions which have a majority adherent is a reference for quantifying the potential support of a figure to appear in direct regional head elections in Sigi Regency both in 2010 and 2015 which just took place simultaneously on December 9. The rationalization and reality of the political community in Sigi Regency that people choose candidates, one of the factors causing it is religious identity. Deputy Regent) in Sigi Regency based on religious identity is a cultural solidarity that wants a balance in political and bureaucratic positions.
One of the Kulawi community leaders, considered that the competition between candidates for regional head of Sigi Regency in the 2015 elections based on religious identity, namely Islam and Protestant Christianity, was a satisfaction. Because Christians feel represented at the top of the executive office. The community feels this is a political balance for the people in Sigi Regency. The composition of the religious community in Sigi Regency can be seen in the following table Political office and public office are two aspects of the political balance that are often considered. Religious identity is a characteristic rationality of society that must be balanced, in addition to political composition dependent on history, such as race and territory. It avoids a monopoly of a particular community group based on religious, ethnic, or regional identity with this composition. Political equilibrium can thus be accommodated not only in the form of provincial head polls, but also in the allocation of strategic roles within the bureaucracy. Several strategic bureaucratic posts were held by Protestant Christian leaders and other non-Muslim faiths during the elections for provincial heads of Sigi Regency in 2010 and 2015. This political reality represents the standard of local democracy in Sigi Regency since the direct regional head election was held, as there is a political leader expressing desires focused on religious identity classes. Political representation is much too complicated and consisting of difficult-to-define components. Political representation entails more than just leaders and the groups they support (Issn, 2022).
Political representation is a balancing between rights and responsibilities as individuals based on religious, national, and cultural origin. The right of any person to receive state facilities and services regardless of racial, national, or cultural identities will help society escape conflict dynamics. The community is satisfied with the rights and obligations obtained from the State, such as the right to become a Regent and Deputy Regent, the right to become a member of the RPRC, the right to become a Village Head through general elections on the basis of religious identity. Gaining power through religious identity is not something taboo but is the reality of political society in Sigi Regency. Thus, the material of the state and culture, namely Bhinneka Tugal Ika, numerous religion, ethnic, and cultural features unified in the system of the Indonesian nation and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (USRI), where every person has the same rule and the ability to get a political role and bureaucracy, is reflected by political representatives.
The following table depicts the reality of religious identity politics in Sigi Regency during direct regional head elections in 2010 and parallel regional head elections in 2015. Candidates for regional head candidates (Regent and Deputy Regent) are matched with religious distinctions, including Muslim figures and Protestant Christian figures. Despite the fact that some candidates for Regent and Deputy Regent have the same religious affiliation as those who run in the direct regional head elections in 2010, namely Ridwan Yalidjama and Edison Kindangen, and the parallel regional head elections in 2015, namely Moh Agus Rahmat and Wardha, they received votes in the last category. This means that their vote tally in the direct regional head elections in Sigi Regency is insignificant. As a result, political assessments should be based on the logic of the characteristics and characteristics of the group, and the element of religious affiliation is crucial in deciding the win in direct regional head elections in Sigi Regency. This reflects the political balance in building the consolidation of local democracy in Sigi Regency and other districts such as Poso Regency and North Morowali Regency.
Since this is the channeling of the desires of community associations founded on the same religious ideology, the religious affiliation factor cannot be ignored. People's aspirations are distributed differently as religious identity associations are formed on the grounds of harmony and religious freedom. Religion is one of the pluralistic identities adopted by this nation to build a more aspirational democracy. Therefore, with such polarization, religious identity is a way to gain power and public office. In such a context, in politics it is mentioned as a political balance and obtaining political and economic opportunities in a propritional manner. With the politics of balance, it can overcome the tyranny of the majority by certain community groups.
In the 2015 provincial head elections in Sigi Regency, religious affiliation was crucial in gaining power. The state of political complexities in Sigi Regency is clearly shown by Kalukubula community leaders, who show that the Regent and Deputy Regent candidates must be natives who understand the challenges that the citizens of Sigi face. There are several sub-districts that are majority Muslim and some sub-districts are majority Christian, this must be in pairs. Because in Sigi Regency, religion is a political tool under the domain of the election of the Regent and Deputy Regent to achieve its goals. As in the election of the Regent and Deputy Regent which had just happened, Irwan Lapatta and Paulina were elected. All of these are representatives of Islam and Christianity.

Conclusion
True religious identity as a political tool is not from a negative perspective, but rather in a representative context, where all religious, ethnic and cultural community groups have equal and proportional access to political and bureaucratic positions. Political resources then have quite an effect on the level of public policy both at the executive and legislative levels (RPRC). Proportional public policies can provide access for every religion and ethnicity to get the right to manage economic resources both at the regional and at the village and sub-district levels in Sigi Regency. The politics of religious identity in the simultaneous regional head elections in Sigi Regency in 2015 gave birth to a balance politics in gaining access to political and bureaucratic positions in the regional government and RPRC of Sigi Regency. Direct regional head elections with the participation of the public to participate in the politics of voting constitute a political representation based on religious identity. Theoretically, it is in voter behavior that people vote based on solidarity relations between religions, ethnicities, cultures, and regional origins. Therefore, the candidate pairs for regional head of Sigi Regency in the 2015 regional head elections are an objective condition of the characteristics and patterns of people who embrace the majority religion, namely Islam and Protestant Christianity. In such political conditions, people feel that their political rights are inspired based on religious solidity.
The religious identity factor for figures nominated for Regent and Deputy Regent gives a political meaning of balance to get the right to be elected and to elect leaders based on religion. Regent and Deputy Regent candidates with different religious identities are an agreement by the community to win the regional head election in Sigi Regency. By accommodating candidates based on religious identity, political communication and socio-cultural relations can be well maintained and preserved. The unity and integrity of the nation's children in Sigi Regency is more solid because the political and economic balance takes place in an accommodative manner based on the religious identity of the community. The politics of religious identity in Sigi Regency is not only in the direct regional head elections in 2010 and 2015, but the legislative general elections (DPRD) of Sigi Regency in 2014 and the previous year were representative politics based on religious identity. This political reality, constitutionally provides equal rights and obligations to every citizen to gain access to the positions of Regent and Deputy Regent as well as strategic positions in the local government bureaucracy in Sigi Regency.