The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, New Komeito Party, see a better chance of garnering more votes if an election is held shortly after the LDP selects its new leader to replace outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Sept 22, the paper said.

The winner of the race for LDP leadership is assured of becoming prime minister by the virtue of the party's majority in parliament's lower house.

The LDP and New Komeito's plan is for the new prime minister to make a policy speech on Sept 29 at parliament's extraordinary session and answer party representatives' questions from Oct 1-3, the paper said.

Then, the prime minister will dissolve the lower house on either on Oct 3 or 6.

In the race for Japan's next leader, former foreign minister Taro Aso, who now holds the LDP's No. 2 position, is seen as the frontrunner, but faces six would-be rivals, including Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano, a party heavyweight.

Younger LDP lawmakers, such as former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba, has declared their candidacy, but many are struggling to secure backing of 20 lawmakers as stipulated in party rules. -- REUTERS