Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio plans to replace four Cabinet members who are embroiled in a political fund scandal involving the largest faction in his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The prime minister is expected to make the move on Thursday, aiming to reshuffle the Cabinet after the current session of the Diet closes on Wednesday.

The four members are Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Suzuki Junji, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Miyashita Ichiro.

Kishida's decision to remove the four is a response to a growing money scandal involving the faction formerly led by late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. They belong to the group, which is still recognized as the Abe faction.

Their successors will be selected mainly from individuals not belonging to the Abe faction but with prior ministerial experience.

Five state ministers belonging to the Abe faction are also likely to be replaced.

Kishida is expected to hold a news conference shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday to explain future steps.

The president of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, Izumi Kenta, accused Kishida of eroding people's trust in politics.

He said Kishida's government has lost its legitimacy and is no longer functioning, and revealed a plan to submit a no-confidence motion, which is expected to be rejected by the ruling coalition.