A political tug-of-war intensified Thursday as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on the opposition parties to stop attacking Cabinet ministers embroiled in funding scandals.

His No. 2 went so far as to suggest the prime minister might dissolve the Lower House if critics do not shut up and stop obstructing Diet sessions.

During Thursday¡¯s budget committee session in the Lower House, Abe called on opposition lawmakers to stop calling out ministers and focus instead on ¡°key policy issues¡± in the Diet.