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Jakarta. Two officials from the Democratic Party’s Yogyakarta branch quit on Thursday in the wake of the resignation of its chairman, Gusti Haryo Prabukusumo, the brother of the sultan, as the political fallout from the ruckus over the city’s special status continued.

Faraz Alam Umaya and Lulu D. Budiardjo, vice chairman and secretary of the party’s Yogyakarta chapter, respectively, resigned a day after Prabukusumo quit the ruling party in protest against what appears to be a government move to strip the sultan of automatic governorship.

“I was disappointed and embarrassed by the political attitude of the central leadership board of the Democrats, who seem to have forgotten the mandate of the constitution and violated the conscience of the people,” Faraz said.

Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the governor of Yogyakarta who is a member of the Golkar Party, praised his younger brother’s decision, calling it a sign of the royal family’s solidarity in fighting for Yogyakarta’s special status.

“Although we have different political views, we have the same integrity in confronting the issue. I’m proud that Prabu has shown it,” he said on Thursday.

Two lawmakers representing Yogyakarta’s electoral district, Roy Suryo and Agus Sebastian, are also being urged by Yogyakartans to resign from the Democratic Party, but Roy said he would be in a better position to fight for Yogyakarta’s interests as a party member.

“I understand the position of Gusti Prabukusumo,” he said on Thursday.

“But my position is very clear that I will not resign (from the Democrats) because I will fight for the Yogyakarta bill in accordance with the expectations of the people,” said Roy, who is related to the royal family of Paku Alam VIII, the deputy governor of Yogyakarta.

Djoko Suwidi, chairman of Yogyakarta’s Democrat Advisory Council, said he regretted the resignation of the three officials, especially Prabukusumo, but said it wouldn’t affect the party’s operations.

 “We were saddened to have lost [Prabukusumo], but we respect his political stance,” he said.

Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum wrote on his official Twitter account that it was a shame Prabukusumo resigned from the party, “but I respect his political choice.”

Other Democrats, though, called on the sultan to follow his brother’s move and quit Golkar.

“If he is still in the party, it distorts the holiness of the sultanate.

As a member of a party, there would be a political competition and a distortion of his cultural position,” said Ahmad Mubarok, a member of the Democrats’ advisory board.

But Prabukusumo dismissed this, saying the Democrats were not in a position to urge the sultan to withdraw from Golkar.

“It’s impolite and shows that they do not understand what the real problem is.

Golkar supports the sultan’s automatic appointment as governor and does not undermine the special status of Yogyakarta.

So there’s no excuse for the sultan to be uncomfortable in Golkar, let alone resign,” he said.