Will ‘Justice for Zubeen’ define 2026 Assam polls?

As Assam mourns it’s most beloved voice, the battle for justice and memory may decide the fate of the 2026 elections

- PROSENJIT NATH

Zubeen Garg was, and remains, the soul of India and Assam. Known for his music, unmatched versatility, and countless acts of charity including being a father to 15 orphans he symbolized the emotional heartbeat of Assam. His songs carried the scent of the Brahmaputra, the rhythm of the Bihu drum, and the ache of Assamese identity itself. When Zubeen died, Assam did not just lose a musician; it lost its conscience, its melody, and its moral compass. Yet, as the state heads toward the 2026 Assembly elections, the tragedy surrounding Zubeen Garg’s death is no longer only about grief. It has morphed into an electoral question, an emotional battlefield where politics and sentiment are now colliding.

The Congress, sensing an opportunity, has begun to breathe down the neck of the Himanta Biswa Sarma government. It has been alleged in press conferences, on social media, and in street rallies that there are links between influential individuals and the sequence of events leading to Zubeen’s death. The opposition has been quick to weaponize public outrage, presenting itself as the voice of justice. For the Congress, this issue is not merely about a probe; it is about rekindling emotional trust in a state where the party has long been electorally marginalized.

But Himanta Biswa Sarma, one of the most politically astute chief ministers in India, knows what is at stake. He has gone on record with a statement that is both a political gamble and a moral vow: “If I cannot deliver justice to Zubeen Garg, people must not vote for me.” It is not often that a sitting chief minister throws such a gauntlet before the public. Yet Sarma, who has never hidden his admiration for Zubeen, calling himself a “die-hard fan” on several occasions, has transformed the investigation into a personal mission.