The leader of Japan's main opposition force, the Democratic Party, will propose that the party stand no candidates in next month's Lower House election, and let its members run under the banner of the new party led by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, sources said Wednesday.
Seiji Maehara himself intends to stand as an independent in the Oct. 22 House of Representatives election, the sources said. He is set to formally propose the idea to party lawmakers on Thursday.
The move may end up splitting up the Democratic Party, which has been facing declining public support and an exodus of lawmakers to Koike's camp.