Komeito to End Election Cooperation with LDP in Tokyo

Tokyo, May 25 (Jiji Press)--Komeito, the coalition partner of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will stop cooperating with the LDP in elections in Tokyo, including the next House of Representatives poll, Komeito Secretary-General Keiichi Ishii said Thursday.

The move came after the LDP refused to allow Komeito to field its own candidate in the No. 28 Lower House constituency in the capital, which is one of 10 single-seat constituencies created by the redrawing of the Lower House electoral map to correct disparities in the value of votes.

The LDP's refusal has "battered the relationship of trust between the two parties," Ishii told his LDP counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, in a meeting.

Ishii and Motegi agreed to meet again on Tuesday to discuss the matter, but it is unclear whether they will be able to find a common ground.

Earlier on Thursday, Komeito executives agreed not to field the party's own candidate in the No. 28 constituency.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]