The Democratic Party of Japan's internal rift is widening by the day on whether DPJ heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa should be summoned to give unsworn testimony before the Lower House Council on Political Ethics about the money scandal for which he faces indictment.

The issue has developed into a power struggle between the Ozawa camp and those close to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, including Secretary General Katsuya Okada.

On Monday, DPJ executives failed to unite in a demand that Ozawa testify before the ethics council and instead only urged him to do so.