Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a recent telephone conversation with a senior opposition member that he plans to dissolve the House of Representatives in October, prompting a snap election, people close to the matter said.

Noda said that whoever the DPJ's next chief turns out to be in the presidential election in September will have to step down within a month or two if the party takes a big hit in the general election as he expects, the sources said.

This suggests that Noda is looking at calling the snap election shortly after the presidential race, which will be held on Sept. 21.