DPJ effectively loses its majority

TOKYO - Japanese ruling Democratic Party of Japan effectively lost its majority in the House of Representatives on Thursday as five more members have built up their minds to quit in protest of Noda's decision of dissolving Diet.

Five representatives of DPJ, including the former Farm Minister Masahiko Yamada, declared to withdraw from the party on Thursday, one day before the date announced by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to dissolve the Diet, three of them have submitted their applications of resignation.

"I think I could dissolve the lower house Friday if Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe makes promises on cutting the number of lawmakers in the 480-seat lower house," Noda said on Wednesday during a parliamentary debate with main opposition LDP.

Abe responded that the LDP would like to cooperate with DPJ on issuing the electoral system reform bill after the debate.

Noda was criticized heavily inside the DPJ for his announcement of dissolving Diet against all DPJ members' strong resistance.