India, Jan. 15 -- The changing nature of housing in Mumbai has changed the nature of campaigning for the civic elections. And, for some candidates, it could impact the outcome.

Sheetal Mhatre, Mumbai Congress spokesperson contesting from ward no 1 said: "I have about 295 buildings in my constituency and there were times when one got the sense that committee members favoured other parties. But, personal connections developed over a period of time helped."

Mhatre was referring to the "access control" held by housing societies. While candidates could earlier just walk into buildings and canvas door to door, they now have to jump through several hoops before they can meet residents.

Mumbai has over 30,000 housing societies and they are hom...