Planographic printing plate precursor

A positive planographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having successively disposed thereon

• a lower thermosensitive layer containing a water-insoluble but alkali-soluble polymer compound, and
• an upper thermosensitive layer containing a water-insoluble but alkali-soluble polymer compound, with solubility in an aqueous alkali solution increasing under heat,
• wherein at least one of the following conditions (i) to (iii) is satisfied:
• (i) both the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contain an IR absorbing dye, with the ratio of the IR absorbing dye concentration in the upper thermosensitive layer to the IR absorbing dye concentration in the lower thermosensitive layer is 1.6 to 10.0;
• (ii) the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contain different IR absorbing dyes;
• (iii) at least one of the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contains an IR absorbent having, in one molecule, at least two chromophoric groups that absorb IR light, with the chromophoric groups in the IR absorbent bonding to each other via a covalent bond.