Japan in political crisis as ruling coalition splits

Tokyo, Oct. 11 -- Japan's ruling coalition collapsed Friday as junior partner Komeito quit the alliance, putting in peril Sanae Takaichi's bid to become the country's first woman prime minister. Takaichi became head of the Liberal Democratic Party less than a week ago and had been expected to be approved by parliament as premier this month. But Komeito's decision to end the alliance that has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for 25 years sank Japan into a new political crisis.P13

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times....