Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa said Wednesday he will offer Prime Minister Naoto Kan a key Cabinet post if he is elected party leader and thus the next prime minister.

During a news conference in Tokyo ahead of Tuesday's DPJ presidential election, Ozawa also noted that two of his key allies — former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Azuma Koshiishi, who heads the party's Upper House caucus — would also be given key posts to keep the party united after the poll, which many fear could deeply split the DPJ regardless of the result.

"It would be clear to the eyes of the public that the party is unified if (Kan and Hatoyama) play important roles in the government," said Ozawa, adding he will offer Koshiishi key posts either in the party or the government.