Tokyo, Feb 8 (NationPress) The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is on track to secure a strong independent majority in the recent snap elections held on Sunday, with projections indicating a potential two-thirds majority alongside its allies, according to exit polls released by Japanese media.

As reported by public broadcaster NHK, the LDP is likely to capture between 274 and 328 of the 465 seats in the influential lower house of parliament, surpassing the 233 required for a majority.

With its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, also known as Ishin, the LDP could potentially achieve as many as 366 seats in the House of Representatives based on these polls.

Following a wave of congratulatory messages, including one from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan's first female Prime Minister, Takaichi, emphasized her commitment to an "aggressive" fiscal policy.

"We have always underscored the need for a responsible and proactive fiscal policy," she stated to reporters after the projections indicated her success.

“Our focus will be on ensuring the sustainability of fiscal policy while making necessary investments.”

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

The key question of this election is whether the ruling coalition of the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party will maintain their majority, thereby allowing Prime Minister Takaichi’s administration to persist, or if the opposition will gain strength and hinder that outcome, according to Xinhua news agency.

Polling stations across the nation closed at 8 p.m. local time, with ballot counting expected to continue late into the night.

Among the 465 lower house seats, 289 are elected from single-member districts while 176 are filled through proportional representation across 11 regional blocs.

Recent surveys from major Japanese media outlets indicate that the ruling coalition is likely to secure a majority of seats. Conversely, the newly established Centrist Reform Alliance, which includes the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, appears to be losing traction compared to their pre-election seat counts, according to a poll by Kyodo News.

Despite these forecasts, a notable portion of voters remains undecided, leaving the door open for last-minute changes, while ongoing slush fund scandals associated with the LDP add uncertainty to the electoral landscape.

On January 23, Takaichi made the unexpected decision to dissolve the lower house for a snap election, marking the first instance of such a dissolution at the beginning of a regular parliamentary session in 60 years. She has pledged to resign if the coalition fails to maintain its majority.

This decision has faced criticism for prioritizing political motives over the necessity of enacting an initial budget for fiscal 2026, which begins in April, despite her commitment to policy execution.

This election marks the first lower house election to occur in February since 1990. Heavy snowfall along the Sea of Japan coast raised concerns regarding potential transportation disruptions and safety risks as voters headed to polling places, which could impact voter turnout.