Tokyo [Japan] October 31 (ANI): Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition Komeito is expected to retain a majority in the House of Representatives following Sunday's general election, Japanese media informed citing exit polls.

LDP and Komeito appear to have won at least 233 of the 465 seats in the powerful lower chamber of parliament, defeating opposition parties, Kyodo News reported.

Also Read | 1.5 Million Children in Central Africa Need Emergency Aid: UN.

This came as new PM Kishida seeks a public mandate for his COVID-19, economic and security policies.

If so, the LDP would have lost many of the 276 seats it held prior to the election, but Kishida has said he will claim victory if the LDP-Komeito coalition retains a majority.

Also Read | 1.5 Million Penguins ‘Supercolony’ Earlier Detected From Space, Discovered on Antarctica’s Danger Islands.

Polling stations across Japan were closed at 8 pm (local time) and ballots are being counted, with the final outcome hinging on dozens of battleground constituencies where candidates were neck-and-neck, Kyodo News reported.

Meanwhile, Kishida has promised to pump growth in the world's third-largest economy. His government has also promised to secure more hospital beds to treat COVID-19 patients in preparation for a possible sixth wave of infections.

Voting for Japan's general election began on Sunday morning. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)