Talk persists that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's administration may choose to hold a House of Representatives election on the same day as the House of Councilors election set for summer.

At a meeting Tuesday, Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, agreed to begin preparations for the next Lower House election less than three months after the previous general election.

The timing of the agreement has highlighted the ruling parties' concerns that they may not be able to survive the regular parliamentary session from Jan. 24 as a minority government.

The Upper House will have an election in summer because half of its members will reach the end of their term on July 28. In addition, a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election will take place around the time.

"This is a year of elections," Ishiba told peer LDP executives at a party meeting held Tuesday to mark party members' start of work for this year. "Let's bring all forces together, with the LDP and Komeito at the center."

LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama at a subsequent meeting of party executives vowed to pile up election victories, including at the Tokyo assembly and the Upper House.

"We must keep ourselves constantly prepared for the Lower House election as if we are in a battlefield," he said.

In the previous Lower House election, held on Oct. 27, the LDP and Komeito lost their majority in the all-important chamber. For them, protecting a majority in the Upper House is their final line of defense.

Asked what the ruling camp would consider a victory in the upcoming Upper House election, Moriyama told a news conference after the executive meeting that the ruling parties will aim to protect their majority in the chamber, including their seats not to be contested this time.

"We must make the election one that has (voters) understand that political stability is the most important thing," he said.

In a television program aired at the end of last year, Ishiba did not deny the possibility of holding elections of both chambers at the same time. "That's a possibility," he said.

At Tuesday's meeting between LDP and Komeito executives, the two sides agreed to work on candidate-related arrangements with the next Lower House election in mind. The LDP had suggested launching election preparations.

At Tuesday's news conference, Moriyama said that he "can't say whether there will be (a double election) or not."

Still, many within the ruling parties are opposed to the idea of holding such an election.

On Thursday, Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said that such an election "is not the preferred way."

"Each (chamber) should seek public opinion individually under the bicameral system," he added.

A former cabinet member from the LDP declared that there is "no way" that a double election is feasible, based on the lingering impact of the LDP's political funds scandal.

A Komeito official said that the party "wants to avoid" such an election.

Despite the opposition, the ruling parties are rushing to prepare for the next Lower House election because Ishiba may decide to dissolve that chamber depending on future developments. He could be slapped with a no-confidence resolution against the cabinet, while uncertainties abound over whether the fiscal 2025 budget and important bills will pass parliament as his minority government wishes.

"The final decision will be made by the prime minister," a senior LDP member said.

A rise in the possibility of a Lower House dissolution a little over two months after the general election is a sign of the Ishiba administration's current predicament.

A double election may aid moves by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin no Kai, which are mulling electoral arrangements in Upper House constituencies where one seat is contested in each election.

CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda told a news conference Saturday that he "would not be surprised" if elections for both chambers were held on the same day.

"We'll always work on deciding official candidates," he said.