Tokyo, Feb 8 (NationPress) The Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are poised to secure a substantial majority independently and may even achieve a two-thirds majority in conjunction with allies in the snap elections held on Sunday, according to exit polls from Japanese media.

An exit poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK indicates that the LDP is on track to capture between 274 and 328 of the 465 seats in the influential lower house of parliament, significantly exceeding the 233 required for a majority.

In alliance with its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), the LDP could potentially amass as many as 366 seats in the House of Representatives, based on current polling data.

As a wave of congratulatory messages arrived, including one from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan's first female Prime Minister, Takaichi, underscored her commitment to an “aggressive” fiscal policy.

“We have continually emphasized the necessity of a responsible and proactive fiscal policy,” she expressed to reporters following the positive projections of her success.

“Our priority will be the sustainability of fiscal policy. We are committed to making essential investments.”

Voting for Japan's general election commenced on Sunday morning, featuring a total of 1,284 candidates vying for 465 seats in the House of Representatives.

The central question of the election is whether the governing coalition of the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party will maintain a majority, permitting Takaichi's administration to persist, or if the opposition will bolster its power to obstruct this outcome, as reported by Xinhua.

Polling stations nationwide were scheduled to close at 8 p.m. local time, with ballot counting anticipated to extend late into the evening.

Out of the 465 lower house seats, 289 will be elected from single-member districts, while 176 will be determined through proportional representation across 11 regional blocks.

Recent surveys from leading Japanese media outlets suggest that the ruling coalition is likely to secure a majority of seats. Concurrently, the newly established opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, formally initiated by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, a previous LDP ally, seems to be losing ground compared to their pre-election seat counts, according to a Kyodo News poll.

However, despite these forecasts, polls have noted a considerable portion of voters remain undecided, leaving the door open for last-minute changes, while ongoing slush fund scandals tied to the LDP continue to cast uncertainty over the election.

Takaichi made the unexpected decision to dissolve the lower house for a snap election on January 23, marking the first dissolution at the onset of a regular parliamentary session in 60 years. She has promised to resign if the coalition fails to secure a majority in the election.

This move has drawn criticism for prioritizing political factors over the parliament's enactment of an initial budget for fiscal 2026 starting in April, despite her assurance to prioritize policy execution.

This election marks Japan's first lower house election held in February since 1990. Ongoing heavy snowfall along the Sea of Japan coast has raised concerns regarding transportation disruptions and safety risks as voters head to polling stations, which could, in turn, depress voter turnout.