Himachal Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Satpal Singh Satti is known for his straight talk and fairly realistic outlook in politics.

Having accepted his defeat in Una Assembly segment in 2017 polls (after three consecutive wins) with grace, Satti is cautious in political claims for 2019 Lok Sabha elections with regard to Himachal Pradesh.

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“We won all the four Lok Sabha seats in 2014 polls, so we have nothing to gain more. We can only have something to lose. I do feel that in 2019, the BJP faces a challenge in Himachal to retain this hold,” he told The Statesman in an interview.

He said BJP had won four Lok Sabha seats in HP in ‘Modi wave’, while in Opposition then. “Now we are in the ruling in state and the Centre. We will have to work hard,” he said.

Satti said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national BJP president Amit Shah are very particular about small small issues in every state in the run up to Lok Sabha polls and keep a close watch on ground. “We get to learn so much from them,” he said.

The state BJP president said in Himachal too, the Prime Minister has told the CM and his ministers to move around more in the field and remain in constant touch with people in all the Assembly constituencies. The PM does regular follow-ups on performance.

Satti, who is believed to be close to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, said the biggest plus point of BJP government in HP is CM’s touch with people. “Jai Ram Thakur is typical Himachali by nature. He is honest, simple and good at heart. That’s why he is getting much response from the people wherever he goes,” he said.

On the challenge of handling divided bureaucracy in Himachal, the BJP leader said although Thakur is new to the chair of CM, but he has a long experience at his back, being five times MLA.

“In HP, Congress and BJP have been alternating power for long. The bureaucrats do get close to political bosses at the helm while working together. But I don’t think the bureaucrats pose any challenge to Thakur. It is a matter of time. Gradually, he is settling with his administrative role,” he said.

He said the BJP core committee met last month and discussed issues with regard to state government. “We got good and bad feedback on different points and conveyed it to the government accordingly for improvement,” he said.

Asked about dominance of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP) team in CM’s office, Satti said all those leaders are mature and have been associated with the organisation for long.

“They have done a lot for the organisation. There is nothing wrong if they have been accommodated. They are there to act as a bridge as they know the contribution of party workers,” he said.

On different factions in BJP, especially the one owing allegiance to former BJP CM, Prem Kumar Dhumal, whose defeat in 2017 Assembly elections paved the way for Jai Ram Thakur’s rise, Satti said there are no differences.

“Two former CMs, Dhumal and Shanta Kumar were instrumental in taking the party to heights in HP. They have their own base and popularity. Earlier, they have been helping BJP directly. The party will keep getting their support indirectly. The government is progressing with their blessings,” he said.

Asked about the importance of party organisation in Himachal where BJP is in ruling, Satti said BJP is unlike Congress.

“In Congress, the person is treated bigger than organisation. In BJP, the organisation is always important as it is the organisation that makes the government,” he said.

Taking a dig at Congress leadership, Satti said Congress leaders are trying to outshine each other within party, eyeing their own future prospects.