A party disciplinary committee announced earlier this week that it was annulling the election of two CSC members, Yang Chi-hsiung and Chiang Ta-lung, for handing out gifts like fish and red wine during their campaign. Widespread allegations surfaced that at least a dozen other CSC members were guilty of distributing presents to party voters.

The controversy has turned into a major test of President Ma Ying-jeou’s promises to clean up the ruling party’s image after taking over as its chairman last weekend.

Several CSC members announced they were resigning out of protest against the vote-buying incidents. The list included outspoken lawmaker Chiu Yi and Taipei City Councilor Lai Su-ju.

A party spokesman said if enough members resigned from the CSC, they could force by-elections or the need for a complete re-election. The CSC could not meet if fewer than 23 members showed up, the spokesman said. Meetings are attended by the chairman, six vice chairmen and 37 CSC members. The next CSC meeting was scheduled for October 28, but the spokesman would not rule out convening an early extra meeting to discuss the crisis.

Ideas were still divided Friday on whether a full re-election of the CSC was needed and how to go about it.

Taichung Mayor Jason Hu said the new CSC members should propose its complete re-election at its next meeting. Hu, who is not a member, said Chiu was wrong to resign, but should instead campaign for a re-election from the inside of the committee.

Lo Shu-lei, a lawmaker who came under fire for her sometimes critical attitude to government decisions, said a re-election would penalize those CSC members who were elected honestly.

Legislator Lu Hsueh-chang said the honesty of the election procedures were not being questioned, so the scandal only involved actions by a limited number of individuals.

Party secretary-general Chan Chuen-po, a Ma confidant, also said that only major problems with the election process could lead to a complete re-election.

The son of KMT honorary chairman Lien Chan, Sean Lien, said he would sue media outlets suggesting he was one of the CSC members involved in vote-buying practices.

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen described the KMT problems as “a national disgrace” rather than a mere internal party affair. The scandal about the CSC election showed that the ruling party had still not succeeded in changing its dark side, she said.

If the KMT was unable to solve its problems, the Legislative Yuan would have to pass laws regulating elections inside political parties, Tsai proposed.