M.K.Stalin justifies move on mayoral polls

Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin justified the Government's move to go in for indirect elections to the posts of Mayors of Municipal Corporations and chairpersons of Municipalities and Town Panchayats.
The need for the change arose because in Villupuram, the head of the urban local bodies belonged to one party while some other party enjoyed a majority in the councils. This resulted in the aspirations of people not being fulfilled. Citing the examples of Villupuram and Vriddhachalam municipalities, the Minister said that after the 2001 elections, meetings of municipal councils could not take place.