Suraj Shinde — political strategist, founder, field researcher.
A decade on the ground — from Gram Panchayat training rooms to Lok Sabha war rooms — shaped how Suraj Shinde builds strategy: listen first, measure everything, execute with discipline.
Biography
Built on the ground, not in a boardroom.
Suraj Shinde is a political strategist and the Founder & CEO of Top Analytica, a research-led political strategy and reputation consultancy with offices in Mumbai and Pune.
His work began far from the campaign trail. As a National Trainer with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), he ran capacity-building programmes for Gram Panchayats on women’s empowerment, market strategies and government schemes. With Paani Foundation he worked on water conservation with Adivasi communities in Nandurbar, and with YASHADA as a Master Trainer.
A Gandhi Fellowship took him to Bihar, where he worked on organisation development in the state’s health system. In Bihar he also gained first-hand experience of a large-scale statewide padyatra campaign — an education in how political movements are organised on the ground.
In 2023 he founded Top Analytica to bring that discipline to elections and public life: constituency surveys, booth-level data, campaign war rooms and reputation advisory. The firm has since supported mandates including the Sangli Lok Sabha 2024 victory of Vishal Dada Patil (by 1,00,053 votes), the Khanapur Assembly 2024 victory of Suhas Babar (by 78,181 votes) and work with Hasan Mushrif, Cabinet Minister and MLA from Kagal.
He also founded VAJRANITI, a reputation, communication and influence practice, and remains involved in youth leadership and social initiatives including TOP INDIA and Official NGO.
Principles
How he works.
Evidence before assumptions
Every engagement begins with surveys, field visits and listening — not opinions in a room.
Strategy with clarity
Complex situations reduced to clear priorities, a message and a plan people can follow.
Execution that is measured
Ground teams, war room, digital and media working to targets that are tracked weekly.
Career
- 2023 —Founder & CEO, Top Analytica
- —Founder, VAJRANITI
- 2023 — 24Director, VOTE Plus
- 2022 —Founder, Official NGO
- 2021 —Co-Founder & Director, TOP INDIA
- 2021 — 22Gandhi Fellow, Bihar health system
- 2019 —National Trainer, NIRDPR
- 2018 — 22Paani Foundation · YASHADA · WASH training
- 2016 — 18Founder, Dhadpad Foundation
Education
- M.A.Political Science, Shivaji University
- Cert.Rural Sociology, NIRDPR
- CourseForest Research Institute, Dehradun
- Dip.Mechanical Engineering
Languages
Marathi · Hindi · English
FAQ
Quick facts.
Where is Suraj Shinde based?
Suraj Shinde is based in Maharashtra and works from Top Analytica’s offices in Mumbai and Pune, with field teams across Maharashtra and other states.
What is Suraj Shinde’s educational background?
He holds an M.A. in Political Science from Shivaji University, a certificate in Rural Sociology from NIRDPR, a diploma in Mechanical Engineering, and professional learning from the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
When did Suraj Shinde found Top Analytica?
He founded Top Analytica in 2023, after nearly a decade of fieldwork in rural development, training, fellowships and campaigns.