The three opposition parties including the Liberal Democratic Party jointly submitted a Cabinet non-confidence motion to the House of Representatives recently.

This happened against the background of the accident at the nuclear power station caused by the massive earthquake and its ensuing tsunami.

President of the LDP Tanigaki expressed his intention to submit a motion, saying that it serves as the best weapon in the hands of the opposition party holding the regime accountable for the accident. This was joined by other opposition parties.

Moreover, there began even at the Democratic Party a movement favoring the opposition parties' presentation of the motion.

What merits attention is that former representative of the DP Ozawa rolled up his sleeves to launch "a campaign for forcing Naoto Kan to step down" though he was subject to the suspension of qualification after being indicted on charges of violation of the law on the regulation on political fund.

Ozawa invited at least 60 members of the House of Representatives from the DP to a meeting at a hotel in Tokyo Metropolis and asked them to vote for the motion when it is submitted.

Timed to coincide with this, Ozawa's confidants, three vice-ministers of the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of National Land and Communications and the Ministry of Government Administration and two parliamentary officials tendered their resignations to vote for the motion.

It is against this backdrop that the motion was put to a vote at the plenary session of the House of Representatives but turned down.

After the motion was voted down, the true colors of the politicians engrossed in the scramble for power were brought into bolder relief.

Kan expressed his intention to step down before the voting on the motion, but made a speech totally denying it after it was voted down. This sparked off fresh contradiction and confrontation.

Voices demanding an early resignation of the prime minister were heard from among members of DP who claimed the "Kan Cabinet is little different from a 'corpse'".

Advisor to the DP Watanabe at a press conference requested the prime minister to resign as soon as possible and Secretary General of the DP Okada expressed his intention to recommend the prime minister to step down in case he is not willing to resign.

Opposition parties began examining the issue of submitting a motion calling for impeaching the prime minister to the House of Councilors.

By taking advantage of the favorable conditions where opposition parties hold an overwhelming majority of members of the House of Councilors, the LDP seeks to make the above-said motion passed at an early date and lead the political situation to the dissolution of the House of Representatives and general election in a bid to come to power again.