India, Sept. 7 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Sunday said he will step down following growing calls from his party to take responsibility for its big loss in the July parliamentary election.

Ishiba, who took office in October, has resisted demands from mostly rightwing opponents within his own party for more than a month.

The decision is seen as an attempt to unify a fractured party ahead of a potential leadership contest.

Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Monday on whether to hold an emergency leadership election.

LDP lawmakers and regional officials across Japan who want a new leadership election will submit a request on Monday.

Public broadcaster NHK said Ishiba made the decision to avoid a ...