TOKYO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan's junior coalition ally Komeito has decided not to cooperate with the main LDP in the next lower house election in Tokyo, lawmakers and local media said on Thursday.
Komeito has conveyed the LDP's intention not to field a candidate in one of the new single-seat constituencies to be added in Tokyo from the next lower house election, with speculation growing among political watchers that the rift between the two parties could lead to the dissolution of the coalition.
The rift between the parties is down to the LDP's opposition to Komeito fielding its candidate in Tokyo's newly established 28th electoral district and comes amid the possibility the lower house may be dissolved and a snap election called in the not-too-distant future.
Initially, Komeito ditched plans to field its candidate following objections from the LDP, but along with this decision being reversed, and the rift potentially widening between the ruling parties, the LDP's junior partner has also conveyed its decision not to cooperate with the LDP in the 2025 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.
Lawmakers said at the request of the LDP, discussions between the two parties will continue next week, following the talks on Thursday between Keiichi Ishii, secretary general of Komeito, and his LDP equivalent Toshimitsu Motegi. ■