Ozawa's camp wishes to see changes in the DPJ leadership structure including replacing Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and Secretary General Yukio Edano, who are known to be adverse to Ozawa's style of politics that has led to him being dubbed the 'Shadow Shogun' for his back room dealings.
Political pundits said it remains to be seen whether or not DPJ can remain in unity after already having lost one prime minister since taking power for the first time a year ago.
Kan will be hoping that public sentiment will influence party members' decision making and ensure his immediate future as the party and the nation's leader.
A total 73 percent of voters surveyed by the Nikkei newspaper recently said they wanted Kan stay in office, compared with just 17 percent who hoped for Ozawa's victory.
Similarly, a poll by the Yomiuri Shimbun showed 67 percent of respondents favored Kan compared to just 14 percent for his opponent.
Meanwhile, 70 percent of voters surveyed by Kyodo News said they supported Kan, compared with 16 percent for Ozawa.
Ozawa stepped down as party leader last year over a political funding scandal and resigned as the party's No.2 in June.
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Nearly 70% Japanese back Kan in ruling party election: survey
TOKYO, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- About 69.9 percent of the respondents in a survey preferred Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan as the leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), according to the Kyodo News on Saturday.
The percentage far surpassed those who support party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa, Kyodo News said. Full story
