KMT pledges to `do its best' to rein in renegade politicians

In an effort to rein in maverick politicians that have vowed to "go it alone" in the year-end legislative elections, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is now shifting its plans to negotiate with these individuals into overdrive in an attempt to lessen the possible impact on the pan-blue alliance's election strategy.

"We will, in principle, try our best to communicate and mediate with them," said Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), who also doubles as the party's vice chairman. Wang is in charge of the party's December legislative election campaign.

Three incumbent KMT legislators who lost Sunday's primary for the December legislative elections have vowed they will launch independent campaigns. Among them, KMT Legislator Tseng Tsai Mei-tsuo (曾蔡美佐) and Legislator-at-large Lee Ho-shun (李和順) claimed that they would run, to the detriment of their party's nominees.

KMT Legislator Chang Tsai-mei (張蔡美), who lost in Sunday's primary, yesterday held a press conference accusing Secretary-General Lin Feng-cheng (林豐正) of sabotaging her chances of winning in the primary. Chang at the press conference also publicized her intention to forsake her party and join the alliance of independents.

Lin made no comments in response to Chang's accusation against him.

Meanwhile, Tseng Tsai yesterday reiterated her determination to run in the year-end legislative elections "to the very end."

"I think there is no way [for me to get party nomination]," said Tseng Tsai, after visiting with Lin yesterday to discuss the possibility of receiving the party's nomination.

According to Tseng Tsai, Lin said that due to primary regulations, there's no room left for her to be considered by the party for nomination.

Saying that she has been a KMT member for the past 40 years, Tseng Tsai said that she would always remain a KMT member; and that she will only leave the party if it chooses not to keep her.