Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa has said Naya Shakti campaigner Baburam Bhattarai has put him under stress by associating him with his campaign.

“Party cadres and journalists always ask me about Bhattarai’s new force wherever I go as part of preparations for party’s 13^th general convention,” Thapa said while speaking at Arghakhanchi district headquarters on Tuesday. “I have committed my life to Congress and have received love from the party and its cadres. I cannot think of any other party other than Congress,” Thapa added.

Thapa brushed aside the rumours as baseless and urged Bhattarai not to associate his name with the campaign. “I am in Congress. I don’t have time to even think about his new force,” he said.

On a different note, Thapa said the achievements made by the incumbent KP Sharma Oli-led government were nil and claimed a new government under NC would be formed after the completion of party’s general convention.

Thapa remarked the organisational structures of the party would be transformed after the convention. He voiced the youth generation of the party should be handed over the leadership. “Leaders trio Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel took the lead to make the party number one in the election and promulgate the constitution. They should now act as our guardians and give us an opportunity to take charge of the party,” he said.