The Japanese Communist Party has expelled a party member who wrote a book calling for JCP leader Kazuo Shii to step down and for the introduction of public elections for party leaders.
Hajime Suzuki, 78, a former official of the Kyoto prefectural committee of the party, was removed Thursday.
In the book -- titled "Letter to Chair Kazuo Shii" and published by Kamogawa Shuppan -- Suzuki said Communist Party membership, including Diet members, had fallen by 50% since Shii became chairman.
