In a stunning development early Monday morning, Banri Kaieda, president of the Democratic Party of Japan learned he lost his Diet seat in Sunday¡¯s Lower House election and is now set to quit as leader of the nation¡¯s largest opposition force.
It is unprecedented for the head of a political party, who generally receives wide media exposure, to lose a Diet seat in an election.
Kaieda¡¯s failure has underlined the DPJ¡¯s weakening grip on swing voters in urban areas, particularly in Tokyo, which is known for having a high concentration of such voters.
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