Early career Gus Ipul started his political career through
GP Ansor, the youth wing of
Nahdlatul Ulama. He served as the chief of GP Ansor for two terms, from 2000–2005 and 2005–2010. Prior to this, he was acting chief of GP Ansor, replacing
Iqbal Assegaf, who had died on 1999. After finishing his tenure as chief of GP Ansor, he was elected as one of Nahdlatul Ulama leaders under the leadership of KH. Said Aqil Siraj.
Member of Parliament Gus Ipul was elected as member of
House of Representatives during the
1999 Indonesian legislative election, running as a candidate for
PDI-P. His time in PDI-P serves as a symbol of the political alliance between
Abdurrahman Wahid and
Megawati Sukarnoputri as Gus Ipul was considered as Wahid's closest aide and being placed in PDI-P. As relations between Gus Dur and Megawati worsen on 2001, Gus Ipul resigned from the House of Representatives and left PDI-P while subsequently joined
PKB. During the PKB party congress, he was elected as secretary general of the party, an optimal position since he had competed with
Alwi Shihab for the position of party chairman.
Minister of Development of Disadvantaged Regions He was appointed
Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions in the
First United Indonesia Cabinet from October 2004 to May 2007. As a minister, he actively visited many disadvantaged regions. However he had a short tenure, as PKB suffered internal strife that lead up of him being fired from his position as secretary general, indirectly resulting in the loss of his position. As he is no longer considered as representative of PKB in the government, both of his position as secretary general of PKB and his ministerial position was succeeded by
Lukman Edy.
Vice Governor Gus Ipul participated the
2008 East Java gubernatorial election as the running mate of
Soekarwo with their candidacy being supported by
Democratic Party,
Prosperous Justice Party, and
National Mandate Party. The election was held in 2 rounds (first round on July 23, 2008 and second round on November 4, 2008) with another recount on
Bangkalan Regency and
Sampang Regency on 21 January 2009. The pair won 50,2% of all votes against
Khofifah Indar Parawansa who won 49,8%. He assumed the office of Vice Governor of East Java on 12 February 2009, inaugurated by
Minister of Home Affairs Mardiyanto. Soekarwo once again called Gus Ipul as his running mate in the
2013 East Java gubernatorial election with a much broader support with
Golkar and
Hanura joined in endorsing the pair. Gus Ipul was previously being rumored to run against Soekarwo but ultimately choose to remain as his running mate on moral and political grounds. In the rematch election against Khofifah, the pair once again won the election this time with just 47,25% of the vote despite the increase in number of votes compared to 2008. They were then inaugurated on February 12, 2014 by Minister of Home Affairs
Gamawan Fauzi and was attended by all regents and mayors of
East Java, ministers of the
Second United Indonesia Cabinet, other governors and public figures of East Java.
Gubernatorial candidate After serving for 10 years as Vice Governor, Gus Ipul advances his candidacy for
Governor of East Java for the
2018 East Java gubernatorial election. His candidacy was endorsed by
PKB on 11 October 2018 and was accompanied by granddaughter of
Sukarno, Puti Guntur Sukarno from
PDI-P as his running mate. His candidacy was also supported by national opposition parties
Gerindra and
PKS. The pair stated that they intend to continue
Soekarwo's programs. However, the pair was defeated by
Khofifah Indar Parawansa and
Emil Dardak.
Mayor of Pasuruan Gus Ipul ran for mayor of
Pasuruan in 2020 with
Adi Wibowo as his running mate. The pair ran against the incumbent candidate,
Raharto Teno Prasetyo. He won the election and appointed mayor from 2021 to 2024 and was inaugurated by Governor of East Java
Khofifah Indar Parawansa.
Minister of Social Affairs Having almost completed his term as mayor of Pasuruan, President
Joko Widodo appointed Gus Ipul to replace
Tri Rismaharini as
Minister of Social Affairs on September 11, 2024 as she participate in the
2024 East Java gubernatorial election. He serve in his ministerial position through the remainder of Jokowi's term until his presidency was up on October 20, 2024, making Gus Ipul's term having less than a month short. He retained his position under the presidency of
Prabowo Subianto, with
Agus Jabo Priyono serving as his deputy minister in the new
Red White Cabinet. == References ==