Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, Jan. 4: Bihar has done it. Jharkhand has taken the cue.

Following in the footsteps of his Bihar counterpart, Nitish Kumar, chief minister Arjun Munda announced in the Assembly that all his cabinet colleagues would declare their property for transparency in governance.

In Bihar, cabinet ministers have already made their assets public this New Year. Any individual seeking to know details can find the same on the state’s website.

Replying to a question from Congress legislator Yogendra Sao on the matter during the 30-minute chief minister’s Question Hour on the second day of the winter session, Munda said: “All my ministers will announce details of their property, too.” He, however, did not provide any time frame. Speaker C.P. Singh too prodded the legislators who promised to announce details of their assets soon.

The chief minister’s word assumes significance particularly when corruption cases are pending against several public figures, including former chief minister Madhu Koda and three of his cabinet colleagues.

In another development in the Assembly, Munda also promised to accord Bengali the status of second official language of the state along with Santhali.

He was responding to a question from Nirsa MLA Arup Chatterjee. The proposal will be tabled in the Assembly during the budget session in February-March.

Dearth of doctors in hospitals of rural Jharkhand also figured during the chief minister’s Question Hour.

Bagoder MLA Vinod Singh asked whether the government would like to take a policy decision to regularise the services of 750-odd doctors who had been appointed on contract and were currently posted at different health centres in the rural hinterland. Munda said his government would ponder on the issue.

JVM legislature party leader Pradeep Yadav accused the chief minister of evading questions. “He (Munda) appeared to be running away from issues. In fact, he is ignoring vital problems plaguing the state,” Yadav said after the lunch break. The Bagoder legislator seconded him.

The issue of Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act also figured during the Question Hour.

On whether his government was divided over implementation of the act, Munda said no provision of CNT had been changed and the act would be implemented.

Shikaripara MLA Nalin Soren and jailed Kolebira MLA Anosh Ekka did not attend today’s Assembly session.