TOKYO, JAPAN - Unpopular Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's plan to revamp his top party line-up before a tough election faced stiff opposition on Wednesday, although domestic media said he might manage to add fresh faces to his cabinet.

Aso, whose ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is in danger of losing a general election that must be held by October, was considering announcing plans to dissolve the lower house of parliament for an early August poll, Japanese newspapers said.

Aso said on Tuesday that he was considering changes to his cabinet and the party leadership but heavyweights in the LDP's biggest faction are strongly opposed to a shake-up.

Yoshitaka Murata, the LDP's deputy head of parliamentary affairs, told reporters he was against the personnel change, and that aides to Aso were giving him bad advice.

'I wish they would stop giving him advice. I want them to be quiet,' he said.

Analysts say Aso, whose popularity ratings have sunk below 20 percent in some polls, hopes to boost his standing with voters by appointing telegenic lawmakers to key party positions and clear the way for an election in early August.

But many in the party are opposed to rushing into a national vote and moves are afoot to replace the 68-year-old leader.