Japan’s ruling coalition, comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito, has lost its majority in the House of Councillors, according to preliminary results from Sunday’s election.

Early tallies from local election commissions show the coalition is projected to win only 49 of the 124 contested seats, falling short of the 50-seat threshold needed to maintain majority control in the upper house.

The setback deals a significant blow to Prime Minister’s administration amid growing public dissatisfaction over economic issues and rising living costs. It also paves the way for the opposition to strengthen its role in shaping legislative agendas.