When asked why being a national party Congress was contesting on lesser seats than a regional party like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Paswan told : "Congress always believed on coalition dharma. Wherever we think we are strong, we are contesting. We (JMM, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal) share a same ideology.
"If they think we are afraid of the BJP, it is their misunderstanding. People of Jharkhand have seen them in the past five years. Infact, the BJP is themselves afraid of losing as they are contesting the elections in five phases. Once they said they will remove 'Naxalism' from our state, when they chaim it has been removed then why are the elections going four five phases?"
"They (AJSU) are more or less the same. I feel after the results they will again switch hands with them (BJP). We have seen them for last 19 years, we don't know about them."
If it comes to power, the Mahagathbandhan's roadmap would be about taking Jharkhand on the top of the country, Paswan said.
"Firstly, we will provide employment to the youth of Jharkhand so we don't have to go away from our state. The present BJP-led government did nothing for the youths except looting them. They have given all the mineral-rich lands to the industrialists who are getting benefitted while our youths are struggling for jobs.
"We will change whatever has happened. Every single person of Jharkhand will be happy when we take charge," he concluded.
Jharkhand will go to polls in five phases from November 30.
Fighting in alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress is contesting 31 of the state's 81 seats, the JMM 43, and the RJD seven.
( With inputs from IANS )