TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The DPP on Wednesday welcomed the possibility of the TPP nominating former party chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) as its candidate in the Taichung mayoral election.

The remarks followed comments by TPP Taichung branch chair Chen Ching-lung (陳清龍), who on Tuesday criticized the KMT’s handling of its Taichung mayoral nomination, per Liberty Times. Chen said that while the TPP lacks strong local candidates in Taichung, it could consider nominating figures such as Ko to prevent the DPP from benefiting from what he described as KMT delays.

DPP Taichung City Council caucus whip Chou Yung-hung (周永鴻) welcomed the suggestion, saying the party is confident its candidate, Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純), can defeat any opponent, per FTV. He added that floating Ko as a potential candidate underscores what he called the “purely political calculus” behind possible KMT-TPP cooperation.

Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) responded to Chen’s comments, saying the KMT would hold coordination talks Wednesday with Legislator Yang Chiung-ying (楊瓊瓔), per Liberty Times. He said he hoped the two parties could continue cooperating in the local elections scheduled for later this year.

TPP Taichung City Councilor Chiang Ho-shu (江和樹) also weighed in on the KMT’s nomination process, saying internal TPP polling favors Johnny Chiang, per UDN. He urged the KMT to name its candidate as soon as possible and begin discussions on cooperation in Taichung with TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌).

Johnny Chiang said uncertainty over the nomination has caused anxiety among KMT supporters, particularly as the DPP has already unified behind a single candidate. He added that Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) has urged the party to finalize its nominee before the end of January to provide stability for the party’s base.