CHENNAI: Describing the Madras High Court verdict upholding the disqualification of 18 MLAs as a god-send, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday said the AIADMK was ready to face the by-elections to 20 constituencies.
“Already, we were prepared to face the by-elections in two Assembly constituencies. But the Election Commission postponed them. Now, after this verdict, once the 18 Assembly seats are declared vacant, we will face the by-elections,” the CM told press at AIADMK headquarters.
Asked whether the AIADMK would urge the Election Commission to conduct the by-elections immediately, he said, “This is a legal issue. Only the EC will decide on holding the by-elections.”
Questioned whether this verdict would help the AIADMK in winning the Lok Sabha elections, Palaniswami said, “We won 37 LS seats in 2014 elections and this winning streak would continue in the forthcoming by-elections too.”
After the HC verdict, jubilant mood was prevalent at the AIADMK headquarters. Many senior ministers distributed sweets to the public to share their happiness. A little later, the CM arrived there and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and others received him with bouquets and shawls.