Tokyo, July 13 (DPA) Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso Monday agreed with top lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to dissolve the Diet's lower house and call early elections for Aug 30.

The decision came after the ruling coalition of the LDP and the New Komeito party lost its majority in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly in an election Sunday and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan became the strongest party in the chamber.

Takeo Kawamura, a government spokesman, said the election produced 'grave results' for the ruling bloc.

In Sunday's elections, the Democratic Party of Japan won 54 seats compared with 38 seats for the LDP and 23 for New Komeito in the 127-seat assembly.

Although the race does not directly affect the LDP's control of the national government, it was seen as an indicator of how a national poll might run as elections are required by the autumn.

The term for the House of Representative ends Sep 10, and Aso was expected to dissolve the chamber July 21.

The LDP, which has led the country for almost 50 straight years, has seen its popularity sink steadily in recent years, going through three leaders since 2006.