The KMT's plan to keep Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an away from Taiwan People's Party campaign events could backfire on him at the ballot box, and it is a warning sign for the blue-white alliance ahead of year-end elections.

• The KMT's Taipei branch wants Chiang to skip solo appearances for individual TPP city council candidates, joining only joint rallies — as few as possible, and as far from election day as possible.
• KMT city councilor Chin Hui-chu warns this will annoy TPP supporters, the "little grass," and could cost Chiang votes.
• Swing voters may read the distance as the KMT being petty toward its partner.
• Many TPP backers lean green, so a hard line risks pushing them to Democratic Progressive Party mayoral candidate Puma Shen instead.

Outlook: The KMT has to balance protecting its own council seats against keeping TPP voters willing to back Chiang, and the tone of that cooperation will be tested as the campaign heats up.