The swiping victory of Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in Assam legislative assembly elections 2026 brought the limelight on Zubeen Garg once again, but in a different perspective. One can observe that all the candidates and parties, which brought the issue of Zubeen’s unusual death in Singapore and subsequent investigative processes to electoral politics, lost the public support. Many of them asserted that the young population would vote against the ruling alliance as the ‘Justice for Zubeen’ campaign touched millions of fans and well-wishers of the revered cultural icon. But the electorates of Assam, who projected an overwhelming polling in a peaceful ambience, responded in a different way, which probably deserves a genuine introspective in a proper forum.
The single phase election on 9 April, which witnessed an all time high percentage of voting (85.91) in Assam, resulted in 82 seats for the BJP alone in the 126-member assembly (thus recording third consecutive win for the saffron party), where the Indian National Congress got the distant second position with only 19 elected representatives. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP allies Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland Peoples Front secured 10 seats each. On the other hand, a Congress partner Raijor Dal won two seats, where another ally Asom Jatiya Parishad scored zero. All India United Democratic Front got two and All India Trinamool Congress received one seat.
Needless to mention that, the close family members of Zubeen urged everyone not to politicise his untimely death and subsequent trials for electoral gains, but some elements put a deaf ear to her. Those notorious entities presumed that in the high-voltage campaign, Zubeen’s unexplained demise in Singapore on 19 September 2025 near Lazarus Island in sea waters and subsequent investigations, would attract the attention of a large number of voters, more precisely a sizable young population, as they were annoyed with Zubeen’s mysterious demise. Meanwhile, a coroner’s court in Singapore ruled that the 53-year old singer died due to accidental drowning, even as investigations in Assam treated the case as a suspected murder.
State Coroner Adam Nakhoda, while delivering his findings said there was no reason to disagree with the Police Coast Guard’s conclusion after examining all evidence. A death certificate issued by Singapore General Hospital also listed the cause of death as drowning. The court concluded that he likely lost consciousness in the water, leading to drowning. The coroner also noted that there was no evidence of foul play, no delay in rescue efforts, and no indication that anyone held him underwater. The vessel’s captain also stated that none forced Zubeen to consume alcohol or enter the water. Zubeen likely lost consciousness, and his face became submerged in the water.
The Singapore verdict created a fresh political storm in Assam as the opposition parties questioned the claim of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma where the saffron leader publicly stated that Zubeen was murdered under a planned conspiracy. The opposition leaders even demanded clarity and accountability from the government in Dispur questioning the integrity of investigations carried by a special team of Assam police personnel over Zubeen’s death, where murder charges were slapped against four individuals namely Shyamkanu Mahanta (organizer of 4th NEI Festival in Singapore), the singers’ manager Siddharth Sharma, two co-artistes Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta. Three others arrested and remained inside the jail include Zubeen’s cousin brother Sandipan Garg along with two security officers namely Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya.
However, responding to the criticism, Sarma said the Singapore conclusion had strengthened the case registered in Assam. Highlighting that Assam investigation was independent of Singapore’s, Sarma pointed out that both the investigations revealed that Zubeen consumed alcohol crossing the permissible limit. The additional aspect in the Assam probe was that Zubeen was made to consume alcohol on the previous night as part of a larger conspiracy.
For records, Zubeen’s uncle Manoj Kumar Borthakur said in a social media post that many were using his name to sway voters with an anti-government twist prior to the assembly election. Garima Saikia Garg, repeated her call with folded hands not to use her husband’s name for political advantages. Few in the opposition listened to her appeal and somehow the outcomes showed the way.
Long Live Zubeen Garg!
Had Zubeen cursed Assam opposition
