‘PM’s charisma, clean admn will ensure victory’

He is known for his plainspeak even if he has to pay a price for it. State BJP president Satpal Singh Satti has the distinction of leading his party to a resounding victory, both in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll and the Assembly poll. His defeat in the Assembly poll last year deprived him of a chance to play an important role in the BJP regime. There are many, not just within the BJP but outside also, who feel his being part of the government would have made a positive difference to the party. Satti now faces the challenge of repeating the historical win the BJP registered in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, in the parliamentary poll, due next year. He is a leader with a strong organisational experience because he was associated with the ABVP from 1982 to 1998. The fact that he was the national secretary of the ABVP for three years has stood him in good stead. In an interview with Special Correspondent Pratibha Chauhan, Satti shares his experience of heading the party, facing elections and the challenge ahead.

You are faced with the stupendous task of ensuring the BJP’s win on all the four Lok Sabha seats? How confident are you of the party sweeping the poll like the historic win in 2014?

I admit that ensuring the win of party candidates on all the four seats is a big challenge, but considering the personality of Prime Minister Narendera Modi and the performance of the NDA regime under him, victory is a foregone conclusion. The hard work of party workers, the Prime Minister’s able leadership and assistance to Himachal and clean and efficient governance by the state government will surely lead the BJP to victory. 

We have a long list of achievements as the Centre gave several premier institutes like AIIMS at Bilaspur, IIT at Mandi, IIIT in Una, four new medical colleges, two smart cities for Shimla and Daharamsala, two four-lane projects linking Parwanoo-Shimla and Swarghat-Manali. What is of greater importance is not just granting of projects but more significantly providing liberal funding for the early completion of these projects.  Zero tolerance /adopted by government/ against corruption and drug mafia is being lauded by one and all, says state BJP president

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur is providing clean and able governance. The zero tolerance adopted by the government against corruption and drug mafia is being lauded by one and all. The CM is a sensitive, responsive and a committed man who wants to lead Himachal to greater heights. Eight months is a very short period to judge a government, but by the time the polls are held, our regime will complete one and a half years. The charisma of Modi will once again help the BJP to return to power at the Centre. 

The hopes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who professes great affinity to Himachal, will provide special assistance to the state have been dashed. He has not given anything big to HP or made any special announcement?

The Prime Minister is a man who, irrespective of any political consideration, accepts the genuine demands of every state, whether it is the BJP, the Congress or any other party. Similarly, he has accepted all genuine demands of Himachal. He understands the problems faced by the state due to geographical constraints and it is for this reason that he restored Himachal’s special category status whereby the state gets 90:10 funding pattern from the Centre. This has come as a big relief to the state because the Centre will fund most of the schemes and the state will have to pitch in with a small amount.

There is an impression that there are too many factions and leaders in the BJP and getting them all together is a stupendous task you face? Do you feel thus could harm the party’s prospects in the parliamentary polls?

The BJP is fully united with there being no camps or factions. This kind of talk is the result of the figment of imagination of the Congress because they have nothing else to hit out at the BJP with. We have a Chief Minister who is very pro-common people and enjoys a clean image. Besides, the party works under the guidance and leadership of stalwarts and two-time chief ministers – Shanta Kumar and PK Dhumal. All of us, including Union Health Minister JP Nadda, work as a team with guidance from our senior leaders. 

There are allegations that the Chief Minister doesn’t have a free hand with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) interfering in the government’s functioning? How do you react to such criticism?

The RSS is a very respectable organisation to which we all are devoted. However, it is absolutely wrong to infer that the RSS is interfering in the governemnt affairs. The RSS is like an elder in the family who is respected and taken into confidence but ultimately it is the government, which takes decisions according to the needs of governance. 

I do not deny that we on our own seek guidance and advice of the RSS, but it is a myth that they interfere in the day-to-today affairs of the government. The RSS pracharaks have no time to sit and interfere in government functioning because they are out in the field, doing their own work. 

How relevant is the role of social media and IT tools in an election campaign and in helping a political party to widen its base?

In today’s times, social media is a very powerful tool, which has penetrated right to the grassroots level. The BJP, too, realises the importance of social media and is making use of it to reach out to the people. Though Himachal has constraints, but the social media has great relevance, especially for the youth. 

The BJP has 7,723 booth-level units and as part of our programme to reach out to the voters, we have identified at least five or more workers with smart phones so as to have direct access to the village-level workers. Our IT teams are in the process of preparing a list of all such workers who can be contacted at the click of a mouse. 

The BJP under your leadership as the state party president came out with flying colours, both in the Lok Sabha and Assembly poll. However, on the personal front you faced defeat. How does it feel?

It gives me a real sense of achievement that during my stint as the party president, the BJP did well. However, the credit for this goes to the hard work put in by the party workers, unity among them and able leadership, both at the Centre and Himachal. 

My own defeat was unfortunate but then I have always been a man who has a strong organisational base. As president, I tried to strengthen the party and ensure that we reached out to people right at the village level. In the process, probably I was able to take out less time for the electorate of my own constituency. However, I have no regrets, as I am dedicated to the party and whatever responsibility I am given, I perform it to the best of my ability, without letting considerations of personal gain or loss coming in my way. 

Will the BJP repeat its sitting Lok Sabha MPs from the four seats or could there be any changes? 

All our four MPs have performed well. However, the final decision as to who would be fielded will be taken by the BJP Parliamentary Board, whose decisions we abide by. 

The BJP workers and leaders who ensured the party’s victory are eagerly awaiting the appointment of chairmen and vice-chairmen of Boards and Corporations? It has been eight months since the formation of the government, how long will they have to wait?

It will be done shortly in consultation with the party high command. Though the appointment of chief parliamentary secretaries and parliamentary secretaries has been ruled out in view of the office of profit clause, the Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip in the Vidhan Sabha will also be appointed, very soon.