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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dissolved parliament, paving the way for a snap election, the BBC reported.

Mr Abe is seeking a new mandate for economic reforms and is delaying an unpopular increase in sales tax.

But opinion polls conducted by local media indicate low support for the PM and that many people do not understand why has called an election two years ahead of schedule.

Japan will now head to the polls in mid-December.

Though his popularity has fallen, Mr Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are still expected to win.

Mr Abe has said he will resign if his coalition - which holds the majority in the lower house - fails to win a simple majority.

Mr Abe launched an ambitious economic plan, informally known as "Abenomics," two years ago when he became prime minister.

Though Japan's GDP growth initially saw a lift, the economy continued to slide and Japan entered a technical recession this quarter.

It was exacerbated by a rise in sales tax in April, from 5% to 8%.

The increases were aimed at curbing Japan's public debt which is the highest among developed nations, but instead scared Japanese consumers off spending.

A second increase to 10% was set for October 2015 but will now be delayed by at least 18 months.