Electoral Politics & Voting Behaviour
Electoral competition, voter choice, campaign dynamics and state-level political change.
Professional Profile
About Ashish Ranjan
Political Analyst Co-founder, DALES
Ashish Ranjan is a political analyst and co-founder of Data Action Lab for Emerging Societies (DALES). His work brings together quantitative survey research, qualitative fieldwork and close analysis of Indian electoral politics and voting behaviour.
His research experience spans 19 Indian states. He has worked with media organisations, research institutions, academic centres and public institutions, and has contributed to public discussions of elections across print, television and digital media.
Research profile
Research Interests & Expertise
Quantitative Survey Research
Design and execution of large-scale regional and pan-Indian surveys, with strong knowledge of Indian political data.
Qualitative Fieldwork
In-depth field research and analysis of electoral behaviour across diverse social and political contexts.
State Capacity
Research into the capacity of public institutions and the way policy is implemented.
Democratic Decentralisation
Interest in local governance, participation and democratic institutions.
Research Tools
Experience with Excel, SPSS, STATA and survey platforms such as KoboCollect.
Career
Professional Experience
August 2025 – May 2026
Consultant
NDTV, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
September 2020 – August 2023
Fellow
Delhi Assembly Research Centre (DARC), Delhi Legislative Assembly
September 2019 – June 2024
Consultant
India Today Group, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
January 2019 – May 2019
Senior Producer
India Today Group, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
July 2017 – August 2018
Research Fellow
Trivedi Centre for Political Data (TCPD), Ashoka University
March 2016 – June 2017
Research Associate
Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Delhi
January 2016 – February 2016
Research Analyst
Centre for Criminology & Socio-legal Studies, University of Toronto
December 2015 – January 2016
Research Analyst
Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia
July 2014 – September 2015
Research Analyst
Accountability Initiative at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR)
February 2013 – May 2013
Research Assistant
Expert Committee on Leveraging Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India
September 2010 – June 2014
Research Assistant
Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi
Education
Academic Background
2010
MA in Political Science
University of Delhi, Delhi
2007
BA in Political Science
Patna University, Bihar
Academic engagement
Selected Academic Talks
Talks and seminars listed in Ashish Ranjan’s CV.
Will the Lok Sabha Election 2024 be a litmus test for the regional parties?
India International Centre (IIC)
Battle Ground 2024: States that will decide the fate of 18th Lok Sabha
Hindu College, University of Delhi
Changing Role of Data in Indian Politics
The Symposium Society, Hindu College, University of Delhi
Election Studies: Opinion Polls and Survey Methodology
Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi
Decoding the Big Picture: Recent Assembly Elections and Indian Politics
Foundation for Creative Social Research
Regional Parties’ SAY amidst the BJP Electoral Hegemony: Bihar 2020
Department of Political Science, Assam University
How to Read the Contemporary Indian Polity through the Lens of Alliances?
University of Hyderabad, national seminar Politics before Elections
Regional Parties and 2019 General Election
Department of Political Science, University of Delhi
The Changing Nature of Indian Electorate: Rise of the Sophisticated Voters
International Conference on Electoral Dynamics and Contours of Party System
Role of regional parties in 2019 election
Vivekanand College, University of Delhi
Understanding Regional Parties and Its Impact on National Election 2019
Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University
Understanding Political Change in Nagaland
Centre for Southeast Asia Studies, Guwahati University
Understanding Regional Parties in India
Centre for Political Studies (CPS), Jawaharlal Nehru University
Research Methods in Social Science and its applications
University Guest House, University of Delhi
KYA APKO LAPTOP MILA? A close look at the Uttar Pradesh Elections
Department of Political Science, University of Delhi
Mapping our way to a Participatory Democracy: Why Activity Maps?
CSDS event at India International Centre, with Vincy Davis
Writing & public discussion
Explore the work
Browse published articles, research and public conversations on elections and Indian politics.