A group of rural representatives on the top political consultative body has moved a motion to extend direct grassroots elections from villages to townships.
The motion was jointly tabled by 35 members of an agriculture subcommittee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
They proposed that the Legal Work Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) should study and introduce a law to promote direct elections of township leaders by eligible voters.
Their motion also called for direct elections of senior communist cadres in villages and townships by local party members.
There is speculation that NPC delegates from Guangdong and Anhui provinces may move a similar motion at the NPC meeting.
Central leaders remain cautious about extending elections from villages to townships because they fear losing control and instability.
The CPPCC motion also proposed candidates for township people's congresses should be directly elected through secret ballots by eligible voters.
