TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) on Thursday announced his bid for Democratic Progressive Party legislative caucus whip, challenging longtime incumbent Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘).

Tsai said he decided to enter the race after encouragement from party colleagues, adding his decision was driven by a desire to respond to the trust and expectations of supporters rather than personal ambition, per Liberty Times. He also said that despite heightened tensions between the ruling DPP and opposition parties, he hoped legislative interaction could return to more regular institutional channels.

Ker declined to comment in detail, saying it was too early to respond and that the party should allow its internal mechanisms to run their course, per Tai Sounds.

Ker has led the DPP’s legislative caucus since 1999, spanning multiple party leadership changes and administrations, per Newtalk. He is the longest-serving caucus whip in Taiwan’s legislative history.

However, following the failed recall campaigns targeting Kuomintang lawmakers, pressure emerged within the DPP leadership under President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for Ker to step aside. Ker retained his post at the time, but Tsai — a member of Lai’s New Tide faction — is now widely viewed as a serious challenger.

Former Legislator Kuo Cheng-liang (郭正亮) said Tsai is likely to emerge as the next caucus whip, citing perceptions that Tsai is favored by Lai, per Storm Media. He said this would place Ker at a disadvantage should the contest proceed to a formal vote.

Kuo cautioned, however, that Tsai may lack Ker’s command of legislative operations, noting Ker’s long-standing familiarity with individual lawmakers and caucus dynamics. He added that Tsai’s candidacy may reflect a shortage of broadly acceptable alternatives within the party, per NOWNews.

Political commentator Huang Yang-ming (黃揚明) offered a similar assessment, saying Ker would likely lose in a vote but could retain leverage through negotiations before balloting, per ETtoday.

Tensions within the party were underscored Wednesday night, when Ker left the DPP’s year-end banquet shortly before Lai arrived, per TVBS.