Chennai, Oct 25 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Thursday said the AIADMK party is ready to face the bypolls for 20 assembly constituencies if they are to be held.

Palaniswami told this to the media after the Supreme Court appointed third judge, Justice M. Sathyanarayanan of the Madras High Court, upheld Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal's 2017 decision disqualifying 18 dissident AIADMK legislators.

"Owing to practical difficulties the bypolls for two constituencies (Thiruparankundram and Tiruvarur) has been differed. With 18 constituencies now being vacant, the AIADMK party will face the polls," Palaniswami said.

The Election Commission (EC) had skipped announcing bypolls for Thiruparankundram and Tiruvarur assembly constituencies as the state government said it would not be possible to hold the polls due to the northeast monsoon.

Queried whether the party would urge the poll body to hold the bypolls, Palaniswami said it was for the EC to decide and the party has no say in that matter.

According to him, the AIADMK party would contest in all the vacant constituencies and win them.