Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura announced Tuesday that he will run for leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai, the Kansai-centered national political party.

Yoshimura's decision comes after the current leader, Lower House member Nobuyuki Baba, decided to resign following the Oct. 27 election, which saw Nippon Ishin finish with 38 seats, down from 43.

At a news conference to announce his candidacy Tuesday, Yoshimura said he decided to run due to a sense that the party was now in crisis.