The BJP might have won the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, but its CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal lost from the Sujanpur constituency by about 3,000 votes.

“This is politics… winning and losing is a part of life,” Dhumal, 73, was quoted as saying by ANI. “Personal loss in not important. It’s bigger that the party has won. There is no point in blaming anyone at this stage. I thank all those who supported me.”

According to results on the Election Commission website, Dhumal polled 18,000 votes against Congress rival and his former aide Rajinder Rana, who had over 21,000 votes.

Dhumal is a two-time CM and the BJP will now have to pick another person to head Himachal.

Congress stalwart and current CM Virbhadra Singh, Dhumal’s arch rival, won from the Arki seat by defeating BJP candidate Rattan Singh Pal.