Guwahati, Sept. 24 -- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday defended Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar following a media report claiming internal rifts within the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

He stated that decisions in the poll panel are made strictly by majority or consensus, dismissing criticism from the Opposition as "desperation".

"The Election Commission cannot take a decision when the Chief Election Commissioner or other Election Commissioners are in the minority. Every decision of the Election Commission must be taken by a majority, as it is a collective body. Therefore, conveying the message across the country that the Chief Election Commissio...