A conservative lawmaker tendered his resignation from the main opposition Democratic Party on Wednesday, setting off what is likely to become a wave of similar moves by others to bolt a party mired in the throes of an existential crisis.

The departure of two-term lawmaker Yoshihiro Suzuki deals yet another blow to the nascent leadership of DP President Seiji Maehara as it tries to mitigate the fallout from adultery allegations leveled last week at young party hopeful Shiori Yamao and her subsequent resignation.

Wednesday's development further strengthens the perception that Maehara, who was elected party president on Sept. 1, faces a bumpy road ahead as his leadership scrambles to convince potential defectors to think twice about leaving.