Will Zubeen Garg’s death shape the 2026 Assam assembly elections?

By Nava Thakuria*

The mysterious death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore on 19 September 2025 continues to cast a long shadow over the State’s political landscape. Despite appeals from political parties and admirers to keep his name out of partisan debates, the circumstances surrounding his demise appear set to influence campaign narratives in the forthcoming Assam Assembly elections, scheduled for March–April 2026 alongside polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

More than five months after his death, Zubeen’s supporters—particularly young people—continue to voice demands for justice across social media platforms. The emotive appeal of the issue has added a sensitive dimension to the electoral discourse in Assam.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led in the State by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, initially faced criticism from opposition parties over what they termed a “mishandling” of the episode. The Indian National Congress, through its Assam unit, released a “Chargesheet 2026” targeting the BJP-led government in Dispur. Among other issues—rising public debt, alleged wealth concentration, unfulfilled promises to Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Moran, Motok, Chutia and Tea Tribes communities, and reported irregularities flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India—the Congress highlighted what it described as deficiencies in the investigation into Zubeen’s death.

During a recent visit to Assam, senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that Zubeen had always remained above politics and should not be drawn into political controversy. She paid tribute at his samadhi site in Sonapur near Guwahati and also offered prayers at the revered Kamakhya Temple. Gandhi criticised the State government over what she termed “politics of polarisation” and alleged harassment of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) chief Gaurav Gogoi.

Meanwhile, the Assam Police arrested seven individuals in connection with what State authorities initially described as a suspected “murder.” Those arrested include festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, Zubeen’s manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, co-singer Amritprava Mahanta, cousin Sandipan Garg, and two personal security officers. All remain in judicial custody. A Special Investigation Team led by senior police officer Munna Prasad Gupta travelled to Singapore to gather evidence and subsequently filed a voluminous chargesheet in court on 12 December 2025.

However, findings emerging from Singapore have complicated the narrative. According to testimony during a coroner’s inquiry by Singapore police investigator David Lim, Zubeen drowned near Lazarus Island after consuming alcohol and refusing to wear a life jacket before jumping off a yacht. He was reportedly brought back onboard and taken to hospital, where he was declared dead at Singapore General Hospital at 5:15 pm local time. The cause of death was confirmed as drowning, with no evidence of foul play or coercion.

Singapore’s leading daily, The Straits Times, reported on 14 January that there was no indication of homicide. These findings have led opposition leaders, including APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, to question the State government’s earlier assertion of a murder conspiracy. Gogoi asked whether the Assamese public should rely on the Singapore investigation or the Assam Police probe. In response, Chief Minister Sarma maintained that the State’s investigation is independent and urged political actors to avoid speculation while the matter is sub judice.

The bereaved family has also sought intervention at the highest level. In a letter dated 24 January to the Prime Minister’s Office, Zubeen’s wife Garima Saikia Garg urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider constituting a special court for expeditious trial. She has publicly expressed concern over delays and conflicting accounts relating to her husband’s death.

The issue reverberated during the recent Budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, with opposition members staging demonstrations demanding a fast-track trial. Earlier, the BJP organised “Nyay Yatras” across several districts, including Guwahati, Nalbari, Mangaldoi, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and Cachar, calling for speedy judicial proceedings.

Leaders from outside Assam have also weighed in. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar attended post-death rituals in Jorhat, describing Zubeen as a cultural ambassador whose influence transcended boundaries. A Samajwadi Party leader in Dhubri has demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, arguing that an independent central agency inquiry would restore public confidence.

The 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly’s current term expires on 20 May 2026. The BJP-led alliance secured decisive victories in both the 2016 and 2021 elections. Recently, a team from the Election Commission of India, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, visited Assam to review poll preparedness. Political parties have urged the Commission to conduct the election in two phases.

While bread-and-butter issues such as employment, development, identity politics and fiscal management remain central to the electoral battle, the emotional resonance of Zubeen Garg’s death continues to shape public discourse. Whether it ultimately alters voting behaviour or remains a symbolic flashpoint will become clear only when Assam heads to the polls in 2026.

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*Senior journalist based in Guwahati

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