Wednesday, September 20 2006 14:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tokyo: Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held its 21st presidential election Wednesday at its headquarters here to select a successor of the incumbent party chief and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

A total of 403 LDP lawmakers, each of whom has one ballot, began voting from 2 p.m. local time. The party's 1.06 million rank-and-file members shared another 300 votes.

Among the three candidates, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe is almost certain to win at least 352 votes or simple majority of ballots and beat Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Foreign Minister Taro Aso.

Recent polls showed Abe enjoyed a comfortable lead among the three candidates.

He not only has secured support of over 70 percent of fellow LDP lawmakers who will vote in the election, but also the advantage in 36 local LDP organisations.

Winner of the race will get a three-year term as LDP president and naturally succeed Koizumi as Japan's next prime minister because the ruling bloc, made up of the LDP and its coalition partner New Komeito party, holds a majority in the lower house, which controls the final say in selecting the premier.

The LDP and opposition parties have agreed to appoint the winner as Koizumi's successor in an extra Diet session on Sep 26.