The candidate for Japans opposition party on Sunday appeared headed for defeat in a key local poll, dealing a fresh blow to the partys scandal-hit leader ahead of general elections, local media said.
Independent Kensaku Morita won the governors race in eastern Chiba over four others including Taira Yoshida, backed by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), according to exit polls conducted by public broadcaster NHK.
The 59-year-old Morita, an actor and former lawmaker in Prime Minister Taro Asos ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), will replace retiring governor Akiko Domoto, NHK and other outlets reported.
Official results of the election in Chiba, south-east of the capital Tokyo, will be announced early Monday. It was the first major election since a chief aide to DPJ president Ichiro Ozawa, long seen as Japans likely next premier, was indicted on Tuesday over a political donations scandal. The defeat of the DPJ-backed candidate may reignite calls for Ozawas resignation ahead of general elections that must be held before the end of September, analysts say.
Ozawa, 66, has resisted intensifying calls to step down immediately, but indicated he may reconsider the decision if polls were to indicate a lack of support.
According to an opinion survey released on Friday, 68 percent of respondents disapproved of Ozawas decision to stay on, while support for Asos cabinet recovered to 23.2 percent from 17.4 percent last month. Ozawa visited Yoshidas campaign office on Saturday and apologised for the uproar caused by his aides indictment.
Prosecutors allege Ozawas fund-raising team illegally took donations from building company Nishimatsu Construction to secure lucrative public works contracts in Ozawas district. But Ozawa has denied any wrongdoing, vowing to continue his quest at least for now to end half a century of almost unbroken rule by the LDP, which Ozawa left in 1993.
The donations probe has also affected Asos LDP as several key figures, including the trade minister, Toshihiro Nikai, have admitted to also taking money from the construction company at the heart of the scandal.