Panchayat Samiti’s ‘missing’ chair kicks up political row

In politics, the chair often symbolises power, position and prestige. But in Narnaul town, it is not the metaphorical seat but an actual chair that has stirred up a political storm in the district.

The office chair of the Vice-Chairperson of the Narnaul Panchayat Samiti has become the talk of the town after a video went viral on social media showing two men walking away with it from the office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO).

What could have been a routine office matter has now snowballed into a major controversy. Vice-Chairperson Poonam has filed a written complaint against Chairman Pankaj Yadav and another individual, Ashok, accusing them of unlawfully taking away government property in their vehicle. She has urged the police to register an FIR against them for theft and damage to government property.

In her complaint, Poonam stated that her husband Praveen Kumar had visited the BDPO office on October 24 for official work and found her office chair missing. “Upon enquiring, staff members denied any knowledge about it. When CCTV footage was checked, it was found that the Chairman, along with Ashok, took away the chair in their vehicle,” she alleged.

Poonam further maintained that the furniture in question belongs to the Panchayat Samiti, not to any individual, and its loss or damage amounts to harm to government property. Citing theft charge, she urged the police to initiate a legal action against the Chairman.

Terming the allegations politically motivated, Pankaj Yadav, Chairman of the Panchayat Samiti, told The Tribune: “The chair was taken from the office for repair and will be returned after it is fixed. The Vice-Chairperson is deliberately making an issue out of nothing due to internal differences.”

Meanwhile, Inspector Mukesh, SHO of City Police Station, Narnaul, confirmed that the matter is under investigation. “Both parties have been called to the police station this evening for questioning as part of the inquiry,” he said. On being contacted, BDPO Renu Lata said she had just returned from a meeting and would check whether the chair had been brought back or not.