Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa came under heavy fire Thursday over scandals involving a rightist figure and an extramarital affair, with some ruling bloc officials joining the opposition's calls for his resignation.

Senior officials of the ruling coalition said he may have to step down to put an end to the furor.

"The problem is likely to have a lasting effect," said a senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, who declined to be named. He is one of the senior members of the Hashimoto faction -- the ruling party's largest faction.