TOKYO, July 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won 48 seats in Sunday's Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, securing its leading position despite the failure of keeping up with the previous seats of 51.

    The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has achieved its goal of garnering at least 30 seats with 35 of its candidates elected. It held 19 seats before the election.

    The New Komeito party, the minor partner in the ruling bloc with the LDP, saw all of its 23 candidates fielded successfully passed the vote.

    The results in this assembly election, the biggest political battle this year, may be an indicator for the next House of Representatives election, to be held by 2007 at the latest.

    A total of 220 candidates, the fewest on record, are vying for 127 seats with four-year terms in 42 electoral districts in Tokyo.

    The final voter turnout was 43.99 percent, down 6.09 percentage points from the previous election in 2001 and the second lowest. The lowest turnout was 40.8 percent, registered in 1997.

    The LDP has fielded 57 candidates in hopes of at least retaining its current 51 seats. Although a local election, any significant loss of seats may be detrimental to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's push for postal service privatization as it would strengthen those opposed to the controversial plan.

    Achieving the party's goal of winning 30 or more seats is a boost for DPJ leader Katsuya Okada, given that his party suffered a defeat in the House of Representatives by-elections in April under his leadership.

    The Japanese Communist Party took up 13 seats. The Social Democratic Party's sole candidate in the election failed to win. The party lost its only seat in the assembly in the previous election in 2001. Enditem