KAMAKURA, Kanagawa Pref. (Kyodo) While it is not unknown for a politician to ditch a party when it is on the verge of losing power, Keiichiro Asao's July 24 announcement to quit the up-and-coming Democratic Party of Japan and run for the Lower House this month as an independent appears suicidal.

His decision is all the more surprising because he is not only turning his back on an 11-year career in the Upper House but also spurning the chance to be a minister if the DPJ comes to power. Showing what it think of his actions, the DPJ was quick to expel Asao, who was its shadow defense minister, rather than accept his resignation.

But the 45-year-old Asao said he could not stand the way the party was becoming increasingly embroiled in what he called a "competition of dole-out policies" with the Liberal Democratic Party in the runup to the Aug. 30 election.