Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stepped down from his post on Sunday following growing calls from his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in July's parliamentary election, AFP reported.

Ishiba, who took office in October, had resisted demands from mostly right-wing opponents within his own party for more than a month.

His move came a day before his Liberal Democratic Party is set to hold an early leadership election.

In July, Ishiba’s ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, further shaking the stability of his government, according to AFP.