The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday proposed amendments to the municipal act to ensure election of mayors by councillors and not by the people as is the practice at present.

Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S P Velumani moved in the state Assembly a bill, the Tamil Nadu Municipal Corporation Laws (Amendment Act), 2016 to give effect to the government's decision in this regard.

"At present, election to the municipal corporation are conducted on party basis. It has been brought to the notice of the government that councils of certain municipal corporations are not functioning properly since the mayor does not enjoy the support of the councillors. It is considered that if the mayor of a corporation enjoys the support of a majority of councillors, the councillors can function in a better manner.

"Therefore, the government has decided to elect a mayor of the corporation indirectly by councillors from among themselves. To give effect to the above decision, the government has decided to amend the law relating to the municipal corporations suitably," he said.

The bill says that accordingly amendments are proposed to various municipal corporation acts governing Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore.