India, Jan. 15 -- Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve the lower house of Parliament soon to pave the way for a snap election to seek the public's mandate for her policies, a top party official said on Wednesday. Takaichi was elected as Japan's first female prime minister in October. A snap election is seen as an attempt to capitalise her still strong approval ratings of around 70 per cent to help her beleaguered governing party gain more seats.

Shunichi Suzuki, secretary general of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters that Takaichi told him and other top officials her plan to dissolve the lower house "soon" after it convenes on January 23. Suzuki did not give dates for a dissolution or a snap electio...