As speculation grows over the chance of a sudden election, rising tensions within the ruling coalition over selecting candidates for a Lower House race threatens to impede the long-standing cooperation they rely on elsewhere.

In an attempt to iron out their differences, LDP secretary general Toshimitsu Motegi met his Komeito counterpart Keiichi Ishii Thursday, but without result.

In unusually harsh words, Ishii told Motegi that Komeito would not endorse an LDP candidate in the Tokyo 28th district race, where both parties wanted to enter, and would not seek LDP endorsement for Komeito's candidate in the Tokyo 29th district.

“We’re very disappointed that the LDP cannot support our candidate in the 28th district. Trust between Komeito and the LDP in Tokyo has lost ground,” Ishii told reporters following the meeting.

At the same, time, Ishii added, the problem between the two parties is confined to the Tokyo districts and he said there is no intention of impacting the ruling coalition. Talks between the two parties over the Tokyo candidacies will resume on May 30, Ishii said.

Tokyo will gain five seats in the next election as part of a nationwide redistricting plan that goes into effect with the next Lower House contest. As debate continues over when that might occur, each political party is adjusting their candidate strategies with the Tokyo additions in mind.

On Wednesday, Komeito's Tokyo chapter confirmed a plan to refrain from fielding a candidate in the 28th district, where the LDP is expected to put one up. But it also decided not to endorse any LDP candidate running for a Tokyo Lower House seat. Nor will it seek the LDP’s endorsement of Mitsunari Okamoto, who will campaign in the Tokyo 29th district, which includes Arakawa and part of Adachi wards. The LDP hasn’t decided on a candidate yet.

Komeito chief Natsuo Yamaguchi has called for the two parties to remain unified.

“Even if we have different opinions, we have to reach a proper agreement in the end and unite in order to secure seats in parliament. It’d be a shame if (the LDP and Komeito) weren’t able to resolve national issues together because of political wrangling,” he said at a Tuesday news conference.

The LDP will enter a general election with a comfortable majority of 262 seats out of 465. Komeito, which has been in coalition with the LDP since 1999 — including the 2009-12 period when they were both in opposition — has 32 seats.

The parties have cooperated during every election since, with the LDP relying on Komeito’s powerful Soka Gakkai support base to help deliver votes in districts where its candidates would have trouble winning on their own. In return, Komeito relies on the LDP’s strength in areas of the country where it has traditionally been weaker.

But strained relations in Tokyo could impact races elsewhere. In Osaka, Komeito has an agreement with Nippon Ishin to cooperate in the city and prefectural assemblies in exchange for Nippon Ishin agreeing to not field candidates in Lower House districts represented by Komeito. But it is unclear if that agreement will continue once the next election is called.

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