This election, political parties are trying to make inroads into big housing complexes to reach out to voters who are otherwise difficult to access within gated communities.

The relatively new move to approach residents of housing complexes is not just an indication of how desperate political parties are to connect to every possible voter but also appears to be a compulsion of an election that promises to be close.

Many housing complexes have thus far resisted political campaigning inside their compound with polite excuses but some have decided to allow candidates so that residents can make an “informed choice.”

South City Complex that falls under in the Rashbehari Assembly constituency has been approached by two political parties for a chance to interact with the residents.

For the first time in the over a decade of the housing, the residents’ welfare association (RWA) has decided to organise an interactive session inviting both the candidates — TMC’s Debasish Kumar and BJP’s Subrata Saha — on a particular date and time when the South City residents will be able to put forward their problems and expectations before the candidates, an RWA official said.

Upohar Housing complex along EM Bypass — that falls under Jadavpur constituency — has refused a political party’s request for a door-to-door campaign inside the housing. “It has been decided that we will not allow any political party representatives to enter the housing for campaigning. To the most, they can leave their leaflets at the main gate security enclosure or with the RWA office. Residents will be informed, if anyone wants, may collect from there,” said an RWA official of Upohar.

Hundreds of gated communities across the city and on the outskirts remain untapped for votes as most of them have been inaccessible during formal campaigning. However, this election promises to be different.

According to a Trinamul Congress leader of south Calcutta, the advantage about campaigning inside a big housing complex is the opportunity to reach out to hundreds of voters at one go. “Even if we manage to influence a handful of residents in a housing society, the idea percolates easily through word of mouth as all the residents of a housing complex have more or less similar set of problems and share similar aspirations,” he said.

Anjana Basu (second from right), BJP candidate from Sonarpur (South), at Sugam Park on Friday evening Telegraph picture

Several housings are following the South City model and allowing candidates to step inside and interact with the residents.

CPI candidate from Sonarpur (Dakshin) Shubham Banerjee has been going around housing complexes in the Narendrapur and Sonarpur areas for several weeks now.

“A large number of my voters live in housing complexes. How can I fulfil my motto of ‘reach to each’ unless I approach all dwellings in both the city and rural areas?” Banerjee told Metro.

Banerjee said he has already campaigned in several housing complexes to understand issues that affect people in these pockets.

The RWA in Sugam Park — a housing complex of 500-odd flats in Narendrapur — where Banerjee was allowed to campaign last month, has announced among its residents that all political parties that will approach would be allowed to campaign in a particular common area inside the complex without use of microphone or political flags. “No door-to-door campaigning will be allowed as that would be a breach of privacy of our residents. But we cannot disregard the process of democracy as well,” said an RWA official of the housing.

Till now, the CPI and the BJP have approached the housing. Both have been given permission.

“We are fixing a date and time of visit in a common area and announcing it among residents. Those who are willing may participate,” the official added.

Several housing complexes that have so long resisted political campaigning on their premises, are preparing a “back-up plan” in case they are forced to yield to the requests of the political parties.

The RWA in Orbit Sky View in north Calcutta’s Paikpara has recently circulated among its residents a message that mentions about the RWA’s successful attempt to “politely” stop a political party from a door-to-door campaign inside their housing.

“However, the association might not be this lucky with other political parties,” the message mentions.

In case of the latter, the RWA would propose to the party to either leave their pamphlets with them or to set up a kiosk in their community hall on a designated time and date which will be informed to residents in advance.

“Residents on their own free will can decide to visit or not to visit,” it mentioned.