The alliance between Taiwan's KMT and the TPP has collapsed in Hsinchu County ahead of the year-end local elections, and the fallout is hurting both parties.

• The two parties failed to agree on who runs for Zhubei mayor, and the deal fell apart publicly.
• TPP chairman Huang Kuo-chang accused KMT candidate Hsu Hsin-ying of lying outright about whether support was ever promised.
• Hsu says she only recently learned of the rule requiring the KMT to coordinate its Zhubei pick with the TPP, and insists she broke no promises.
• TPP staff complain the alliance only ever covered a few races, leaving them with seats the KMT could not win anyway.
• Angry TPP supporters are now urging each other to vote for the DPP candidate to punish the KMT.

Outlook: The two parties will keep fighting over local seats until the November election, with the split likely helping the DPP.