Himanta: Shyamkanu Mahanta exploited Zubeen, ran anti-Modi campaign, doesn’t represent Assam’s culture

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly criticised Shyamkanu Mahanta, accusing him of exploiting the late cultural icon Zubeen Garg for personal gains while simultaneously running an anti-Modi campaign during the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Sarma said he had raised concerns about Mahanta as far back as six years ago. “I always said Zubeen was a great asset, but certain people used him for their own benefit. I personally told Zubeen this, and I also mentioned it in public gatherings. Zubeen should never be compared to ordinary individuals; artists live and think on a higher plane,” Sarma noted.

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The Chief Minister pointed directly at Mahanta’s political stance. “Go through every single post by Shyamkanu Mahanta during the last MP elections—he consistently criticized Prime Minister Modi, predicted BJP’s defeat, and ran an online campaign against us. Even today, people are questioning the same group I had warned about years ago,” he said.

Reiterating his cultural argument, Sarma stressed that Mahanta does not represent Assam’s ethos. “Whether it is Rongali or the NE Festival, Mahanta does not embody the true culture of Assam,” he said, adding that he had never personally interacted with Mahanta.

Sarma’s remarks come amid growing public debate over Mahanta’s role in cultural platforms and his association with Zubeen Garg.