The resounding victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections has once again thrust Zubeen Garg into the headlines—though this time, from a different perspective. It is evident that all those candidates and parties who dragged the issue of Zubeen's untimely death in Singapore—and the subsequent investigative processes—into the realm of electoral politics ultimately lost the support of the public. Many of them had claimed that the youth demographic would vote against the ruling alliance, given that the 'Justice for Zubeen' campaign had deeply resonated with the millions of fans and well-wishers of this revered cultural icon. However, the voters of Assam—who turned out in large numbers to cast their ballots in a peaceful atmosphere—responded in a distinctly different manner; this is a subject that perhaps warrants serious introspection on an appropriate platform.

In the single-phase election held on April 9—which recorded Assam's highest-ever voter turnout of 85.91%—the BJP alone secured 82 seats in the 126-member Legislative Assembly (marking the saffron party's third consecutive victory), while the Indian National Congress finished a distant second with only 19 elected representatives. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP's allies—the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland People's Front—each won 10 seats. On the other hand, the Congress's ally, the 'Raijor Dal', secured two seats, while another ally, the 'Asom Jatiya Parishad', failed to win a single seat. The All India United Democratic Front won two seats, and the All India Trinamool Congress secured one.

Needless to say, Zubin's immediate family members had urged everyone not to politicize his untimely death—and the subsequent investigation—for electoral gain; yet, certain elements paid absolutely no heed to their plea. These notorious elements assumed that, amidst this vigorous election campaign, Zubin's mysterious death in the waters near Lazarus Island, Singapore, on September 19, 2025—along with the ensuing inquiry—would capture the attention of a large number of voters—particularly the youth—who were deeply outraged by his enigmatic demise.

Meanwhile, a coroner's court in Singapore ruled that the 53-year-old singer's death was caused by accidental drowning—a verdict delivered even as an ongoing investigation in Assam was treating the case as a suspected murder. State Coroner Adam Nakhoda, while presenting his findings, stated that after examining all the evidence, there was no reason for the police to disagree with the conclusions reached by the Coast Guard. The death certificate issued by the Singapore General Hospital also cited drowning as the cause of death. The court concluded that Zubeen likely lost consciousness while in the water, which subsequently led to his drowning. The coroner further noted that no evidence of any conspiracy was found, there was no delay in rescue efforts, nor was there any indication that anyone had held him submerged underwater. The ship's captain also affirmed that no one had forced Zubeen to consume alcohol or to enter the water. It is likely that Zubeen lost consciousness, and his face became submerged in the water.

Singapore's verdict has sparked a fresh political storm in Assam, as opposition parties questioned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's claim—in which the saffron leader had publicly asserted that Zubeen's murder was the result of a premeditated conspiracy. Opposition leaders also demanded clarity and accountability from the Dispur-based government, raising doubts regarding the impartiality of the investigation conducted by a special team of the Assam Police into Zubeen's death. In this case, four individuals were charged with murder: Shyamkanu Mahanta (organizer of the 4th NE Festival in Singapore), the singer's manager Siddharth Sharma, and two co-artists—Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprabha Mahanta. Three other individuals were also arrested and remained in custody; these included Zubeen's cousin, Sandipan Garg, and two security personnel—Nandeshwar Bora and Prabin Baishya.

However, responding to the criticism, Sarma stated that the findings from Singapore have further strengthened the case registered in Assam. Clarifying that the investigation in Assam was independent of the inquiry in Singapore, Sarma noted that both investigations revealed that Zubeen had consumed alcohol in excess of the prescribed limit. An additional aspect of the Assam investigation was that, as part of a larger conspiracy, Zubeen had been deliberately plied with alcohol the previous night.

For the record, Zubeen's uncle, Manoj Kumar Borthakur, stated in a social media post that prior to the assembly elections, many individuals were attempting to influence voters by invoking Zubeen's name to lend an anti-government tone to the narrative. Garima Saikia Garg, too, reiterated her appeal—with folded hands—that her husband's name should not be exploited for political gain. Only a few members of the opposition heeded her appeal; ultimately, however, the election results themselves served to vindicate the right path. Long live Zubeen Garg!