A new alliance of Taiwan's smaller opposition parties is making a push into New Taipei City, aiming to win enough seats to form its own caucus — a long-shot bid in one of the toughest areas for third parties.

• Four candidates registered to run for the New Taipei City Council under the Taiwan Forward Front banner, covering Xinzhuang, Sanchong-Luzhou, Xindian and Xizhi areas.
• The group is a joint effort by the Taiwan Statebuilding Party, New Power Party, Green Party and the Obasan Alliance, with New Power Party chair Claire Wang leading the launch.
• The stated goal is a formal caucus in the council that will act as a watchdog regardless of whether the next mayor is from the KMT or the DPP.
• The pitch targets New Taipei's heavy influence from construction and property developers, which they say drowns out ordinary residents.
• Criticism of current mayor Hou Yu-ih focused on traffic, housing, childcare and climate planning — more fines and enforcement, they argue, but poor roads and land handed to big business.

Outlook: The vote comes at year's end, and clearing the bar for a caucus in Taiwan's most populous city would be a real breakthrough for the island's third-party bloc.