If someone tries to hit me, I get reborn’: Mamata Banerjee on I-PAC raids

By_shalini oraon

A Political Phoenix: Mamata Banerjee’s Defiance and the I-PAC Raids

The political landscape of India is often a theater of the dramatic, and few figures embody this drama as completely as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. On a recent day, amidst a storm of controversy surrounding Income Tax raids on the offices of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the strategists credited with shaping her party’s 2021 electoral triumph, Banerjee delivered a line that perfectly encapsulated her political persona: “If someone tries to hit me, I get reborn.”

This statement, more than just a soundbite, is a masterclass in political narrative, a defiant proclamation of resilience, and a strategic pivot that defines her career. To understand its weight, one must unpack the context, the symbolism, and the high-stakes game being played.

The Spark: Raids on the “War Room”

The immediate trigger was the Income Tax Department’s searches at I-PAC’s offices in Delhi and Gujarat. I-PAC, founded by pollster Prashant Kishor, is not just any consultancy. It was the architect of the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) stunning 2021 assembly election victory, which defied national trends and halted the BJP’s advance in Bengal. For Banerjee, I-PAC is synonymous with that historic win.

The official reason for the raids was an alleged discrepancy in financial transactions. However, in the supercharged atmosphere of Indian politics, where central agencies are frequently accused of being wielded as political tools, the move was instantly perceived as a direct attack on Banerjee’s political nerve center. It was seen not as an audit of accounts, but as an assault on the intellectual and strategic machinery that keeps her in power.

“I Get Reborn”: Decoding the Defiance

Banerjee’s response, therefore, was calibrated for maximum impact. The phrase “get reborn” operates on multiple levels:

1. The Mythology of Resilience: Mamata Banerjee has built her career on an “outsider vs. Goliath” narrative. From her early days battling the decades-old Communist regime in Bengal to now taking on the might of the BJP-led central government, she positions herself as the perennial fighter. Each attack, each setback, is framed not as a defeat but as fuel for a more powerful comeback. The “reborn” metaphor taps into this core identity—she emerges from every challenge stronger, more determined, and politically reinvigorated.
2. Martyrdom and Victimhood: The statement instantly casts her and her party as victims of political vendetta. It shifts the public discourse from the specifics of financial compliance to a broader, more emotionally resonant story of persecution. This plays exceptionally well with her core base, which sees her as Didi (elder sister), a solitary woman battling powerful, malicious forces. The raids are framed not as legal procedure but as a “hit,” an act of aggression that morally legitimizes her defiance.
3. A Warning to Opponents: The statement is also a psychological message to her adversaries. It tells them that conventional tactics of pressure and intimidation are counterproductive with her. Instead of cowering, she uses them to consolidate her support, galvanize her cadre, and craft a compelling underdog story for the next electoral round. It’s a declaration that she thrives on conflict.
4. Consolidating the Narrative: By responding so vividly, Banerjee ensures the media and public conversation revolve around her narrative of resistance, rather than the technicalities of the I-T case. She controls the headline.

The Larger Political Chessboard

This incident cannot be viewed in isolation. It is a move in a much larger, ongoing political war:

· Bengal as the Battleground: West Bengal remains one of the most critical and fiercely contested states in Indian politics. The BJP, after making massive inroads in 2019, suffered a setback in 2021. Keeping the TMC and its charismatic leader under constant pressure is a central part of the national opposition’s strategy. Conversely, for Banerjee, positioning herself as the primary victim and challenger of “Delhi’s authoritarianism” is key to her national ambitions as a potential fulcrum for anti-BJP forces.
· The “Agency Raj” Discourse: Banerjee is a leading voice in the opposition’s charge that central investigative agencies—the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax Department—are being used to harass political opponents. Every raid on a TMC leader or associate feeds into this narrative, which she uses to build a united front with other regional parties facing similar actions.
· I-PAC’s Role: Targeting I-PAC is significant because it aims to demoralize the strategic backbone of the TMC. It sends a chilling message to political consultants and professionals working with opposition parties. Banerjee’s defiant defense of I-PAC is a signal that she will protect her ecosystem.

The Historical Echoes

Banerjee’s “reborn” rhetoric is deeply rooted in her political history. She has literally risen from the streets—from a youth Congress worker to the woman who ended the world’s longest-serving democratically elected communist government. She has endured physical assaults, prolonged sit-ins, and immense political isolation. Each time, her public profile has grown. This latest confrontation fits perfectly into that carefully curated legacy of struggle and resurrection.

Conclusion: The Phoenix Strategy

Mamata Banerjee’s reaction to the I-PAC raids is a textbook example of political jiu-jitsu—using the force of an opponent’s attack to one’s own advantage. “If someone tries to hit me, I get reborn” is more than a quip; it is the governing principle of her political survival and expansion.

It reinforces her image as an indomitable fighter, transforms a legal setback into a campaign rallying cry, and keeps her firmly at the center of the national political conversation. Whether this specific controversy yields legal repercussions is almost secondary. Politically, Banerjee has already succeeded in weaving it into her enduring mythos—the story of a phoenix who rises, every time, from the ashes of confrontation. In the high-stakes drama of Indian federal politics, she has once again demonstrated that for her, every blow is a platform, and every attack is an opportunity for rebirth.