In a move heralding the formation of a tripartite coalition, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki are expected to hold talks before the second opposition party's July 24 convention.

Obuchi, who heads the Liberal Democratic Party, hopes to meet with Kanzaki ahead of New Komeito's party convention, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka told a Friday news conference.

Later in the day, New Komeito Secretary General Tetsuzo Fuyushiba told reporters that his party is ready to enter policy talks with the LDP, provided the LDP formally asks New Komeito to join its coalition with the Liberal Party.

New Komeito had earlier said it first needs to determine its platform at the national convention before discussing joining the coalition.

"In principle, we have to first conclude our policy talks within the party at the upcoming convention," Fuyushiba said. "But if the heads of the two parties meet before the convention and the LDP officially asks New Komeito to join the coalition, it is possible for the two parties to start having talks on policies."

Nonaka said the LDP first needs to reach an internal consensus and seek the Liberal Party's approval before taking concrete steps toward forming a tripartite coalition.

But he said the LDP will begin internal decision-making procedures as early as next week toward asking New Komeito to join the coalition, noting the process toward forming the new bloc must be carried out in a clear and transparent manner.

"Although the media have widely reported about the new alliance between the LDP and New Komeito, we have not yet formally asked New Komeito," Nonaka said, indicating it would be better for Obuchi to make the formal overture before the party's convention.

Obuchi launched the coalition with the Liberal Party in January in a bid to to create a stronger power base in the Upper House.

With the two conservative parties still falling short of majority in the chamber, however, the coalition government has been forced to make a series of compromises with New Komeito, which holds a casting vote.

The LDP has recently worked closely with New Komeito on issues that include amendments to bills to cover the updated Japan-U.S. defense cooperation guidelines.

However, resistance toward a coalition with New Komeito lingers within the LDP, especially among lawmakers backed by religious groups. New Komeito is backed by Soka Gakkai, the nation's largest lay Buddhist organization.

Liberal Party leader Ichiro Ozawa has also openly voiced frustration that he has not been consulted over LDP's plans to woo New Komeito into the coalition.