Even as political parties—and millions of admirers of Assam’s revered cultural icon Zubeen Garg—urge restraint in politicising his name, the singer’s mysterious death last year in a foreign land is poised to cast a long shadow over the upcoming Assembly elections.
Signals suggest that the Assam Assembly polls, scheduled for March–April 2026 alongside elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, may witness high-voltage campaigning centred on Zubeen’s unexplained demise in Singapore on September 19, 2025, and the ensuing investigation and judicial proceedings. Five months after his passing, Zubeen continues to stir strong emotions among the youth, reflected in persistent social media demands for justice.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), particularly Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, initially faced backlash over the alleged “mishandling” of the episode. The principal opposition party has since stepped up its attack, demanding swift justice for the bereaved family.
In its Chargesheet 2026 against the BJP-led government in Dispur, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) highlighted what it termed an inefficient probe into Zubeen’s unresolved death. The party also flagged issues such as rising public debt, alleged concentration of illegal wealth, unmet promises to Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Moran, Motok, Chutia and Tea Tribes communities, reported irregularities flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, and the closure of government schools.
During her recent Assam visit, senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raised the issue, noting that the “legendary king of humming” had always stayed away from politics and that his death should not be politicised. She paid tribute at Zubeen’s Samadhi Kshetra in Sonapur near Guwahati and later visited the Kamakhya temple atop Nilachal Hills.
Meanwhile, Assam Police have arrested seven individuals on suspicion of involvement in the alleged “murder” of Zubeen, who was in Singapore to perform at the 4th North East India Festival (September 19–21, 2025). All accused—including organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, manager Siddharth Sharma, bandmate Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, co-singer Amritprava Mahanta, cousin Sandipan Garg, and two personal security officers—remain in judicial custody.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior Assam Police officer Munna Prasad Gupta travelled to Singapore to gather evidence and later filed a thousand-page chargesheet in court on December 12.
On January 24, the bereaved family wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office seeking the constitution of a special court to expedite the trial. Garima Saikia Garg, wife of the 53-year-old singer-filmmaker, voiced concern over delays in the local court proceedings.
She earlier expressed distress over reports emerging from Singapore suggesting that Zubeen died while “severely intoxicated” and swimming without a mandatory life jacket. Citing a January 14 report in The Straits Times, which said there was no foul play, the family urged appropriate diplomatic intervention to uncover the full circumstances behind the tragedy.
Singapore police investigator David Lim, during a coroner’s inquiry, testified that Zubeen had consumed alcohol, declined a life vest, and drowned near Lazarus Island. According to the testimony, friends on the yacht tried to persuade him to return before he became motionless and was found floating face down. He was rushed to Singapore General Hospital, where he was declared dead at 5:15 pm local time. Authorities confirmed drowning as the cause of death and ruled out suicide or coercion.
The recently concluded four-day Budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly also saw opposition leaders staging protests demanding a fast-track trial.
APCC president Gaurav Gogoi criticised Chief Minister Sarma for earlier suggesting a murder conspiracy, arguing that Singapore’s findings indicated otherwise. Sarma responded that the Assam probe was independent of Singapore’s conclusions and urged political restraint since the matter is sub judice.
Earlier, the BJP organised a series of Nyay Yatras across Guwahati, Nalbari, Mangaldoi, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and Cachar to press for speedy judicial proceedings.
Political interest in the issue has widened. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, during a visit to Jorhat for post-death rituals, described Zubeen as a cultural ambassador whose work transcended boundaries. More recently, a Samajwadi Party leader in Dhubri demanded a probe by an independent central agency—preferably the CBI—to bring clarity and justice.
The current term of the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly ends on May 20, 2026. The BJP-led alliance secured decisive victories in both the 2016 and 2021 elections.
Recently, a delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, visited Assam. Representatives of national and regional parties urged the Election Commission in Guwahati to conduct the polls in two phases.
With election season approaching, Assam’s media space is already saturated with political debate. A recent television discussion on NewsLive Bangla, anchored by journalist Rupa Chowdhury and featuring lawyer Shubhrajyoti Sarkar, Barak Valley resident Kamakhya Purkayastha, and this writer, underscored the growing political resonance of the issue.
