New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- Japan's path to appointing Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister has been thrown into uncertainty after the country's ruling coalition fractured on Friday. The Komeito party, a junior partner of the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), announced it would no longer back Takaichi in the upcoming parliamentary vote.

Why did Komeito withdraw from the coalition?

Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito explained that the 26-year alliance with the LDP had ended over the ruling party's failure to adequately address a longstanding political funding scandal.

"We have cooperated over the last 26 years, including when we were out of power. That this relationship is coming to such a conclusion is extremely regrettable...