The spotlight on the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) grew dimmer after Nippon Ishin no Kai beat it to making a distinctive mark on budget negotiations with the ruling coalition.

On Tuesday, Nippon Ishin sealed a deal with the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition on education reform and social insurance in exchange for its support for the minority government’s fiscal 2025 budget –– effectively ensuring its approval in the Lower House.

“I’ve heard about yesterday’s agreement with Nippon Ishin, and I think it’s a great accomplishment, but the CDP has its own demands,” CDP policy chief Kazuhiko Shigetoku said as he and his counterparts from the ruling coalition reconvened Wednesday for the latter to give feedback on the opposition party's proposal.

Nippon Ishin’s milestone came on the heels of the CDP’s own proposal for an amendment of the government’s draft budget on Feb. 14.

The CDP’s proposal, which would increase the budget total from ¥115 trillion ($769 billion) to over ¥118 trillion, reallocates approximately ¥3.8 trillion toward reducing the burden of the gasoline tax, higher spending on education and pay raises for medical and school staff. This involves making use of portions of reserve funds set aside in previous years that have not been spent.

The ruling coalition had put the CDP’s proposal on the back burner, meeting only twice with the party in the past two weeks even as it negotiated with Nippon Ishin on education reform and social insurance, and with the Democratic Party for the People on tax reform.

“Don’t take us for fools,” CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda, frustrated over the sluggish pace of talks involving his party, said at a news conference Friday.

Speaking at a party convention on Monday, Noda lauded the CDP’s accomplishments, such as gaining 50 seats in October’s Lower House election and securing an amendment of the supplementary budget for fiscal 2024, and he downplayed the party’s waning influence.

“I’m told a lot that the CDP’s shadow is fading. I’ve been going around (campaigning in) the countryside every weekend but am told this wherever I go,” he said.

Noda, however, insisted that the CDP is just as involved in budget negotiations as Nippon Ishin and the DPP by also pushing for free education and the elimination of the current temporary tax rate on gasoline to “lay the groundwork” for their success.

To boost its diminishing profile, the CDP is likely to gradually shift its focus over the rest of the current ordinary session of parliament, which runs through June 22, by pushing through bills to allow spouses to have separate surnames and lower the high cost of medical care.

“This battle is taking place on the front stage of parliament. We’re going into fighter mode,” Shigetoku said.