Coimbatore : AIADMK is ready to face the by-elections to the 18 Tamil Nadu Assembly seats any time, once the Election Commission announce the dates, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy said Saturday.

On the preparedness of contesting by-polls including to those constituencies of disqualified MLAs, Palanisamy told mediapersons that his party was all geared up.

He reiterated that the “betrayers and enemies” were given a befitting lesson through the verdict of Madras HIgh Court on the 18 disqualified MLAs About T T V Dhinakaran, Palanisamy blamed a section of the media for giving him undue publicity. ”He has ‘finished’ 18 MLAs. Media has never asked him where he was when Jayalalithaa was alive. He was thrown out of the party,” he said.

Regarding conducting of local body elections, the Chief Minister said the issue was also in court as DMK made the move.

About Central clearance to Kerala Government on impact assessment at Mullaperiyar Dam, he said his Government had already written to the Prime Minister to reject the proposal.

On why Tamil Nadu was not constructing a dam across the Cauvery, Palanisamy said, “We are ready for it. But there should be permission from the riparian States. Will they agree?”

He said Kerala was delaying the long-pending Anamalayar-Nallaru water project, adding that another pending project Athikadavu Anavashi water scheme would soon become a reality.

About increasing man-animal conflict in the region, particularly the killing of two persons by elephants in two days, he said all steps would be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The government would also consider the demand of Anti-Poaching Squad seeking safety gears and other necessary protection materials, he said.

Regarding Mahinda Rajapaksha taking over as Prime Minister In Sri Lanka and the fate of Tamils and fishermen, Palanisamy said there was already demand, including from Jayalalithaa, for declaring him as war criminal.

About safety of fishermen from Tamil Nadu, he said his Government was committed to protecting their lives and also finding a solution to their problems.

He and Fisheries Minister Jayakumar had a few days ago met the Prime Minister and stressed the need to protect the fishermen, Palanisamy said.