New Delhi, October 3:Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar would intensify if he did not resign, amid the ongoing political controversy over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking to ANI, Chidambaram said Kumar would eventually have to step down and urged him to resign at the earliest. He also alleged that someone was protecting and encouraging the CEC not to resign.

On the other two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, Chidambaram said there was currently "no evidence" against them. He added that the Congress would seek their resignations if evidence emerged regarding their roles.

Chidambaram also urged Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of states to disclose the instructions they received during the SIR exercise and explain how they implemented them.

His remarks came amid protests by opposition parties and civil society groups against the electoral-roll revision process. More than 500 people were detained during protests in Delhi on Friday, while demonstrations were also held in Mumbai.

The controversy intensified following a report by The Indian Express that Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over decisions and procedures linked to the SIR exercise and other electoral matters.

The Election Commission, however, rejected the suggestion that the reported objections represented institutional dissent, saying such queries and inputs were part of its normal decision-making process. The poll panel has also maintained that decisions concerning the SIR schedule were unanimous.

The opposition has announced further protests over the issue, keeping the political controversy surrounding the electoral-roll revision process alive.