 He was also expelled from the Hyogo branch of the party, but was subsequently readmitted to the party on 30 August 2010.Konoike was elected to the House of Councillors for his fourth consecutive term in the July 2013 election and unsuccessfully contested the ballot to replace Hirofumi Nakasone as the LDP's leader in the house.He lost the ballot to Kensei Mizote 82–31.