KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) presidential candidate Dr. Shekhar Koirala has revealed that party President Sher Bahadur Deuba had sent spies to his Basundhara residence during the General Convention to monitor the situation.

At a press meet held on the eve of voting in the NC’s 14^th general convention, a journalist asked Dr. Koirala if Deuba sent spies to his home in course of the convention.

Dr. Koirala, responding to the journalist’s query, said, “You asked me the right question. For now I want to say yes, it is true.”

Prime Minister and NC President Deuba earlier in the day remarked that his re-election to leadership was crucial or else he would be thrown out of the government and the current coalition government would shatter.

In the context of Deuba’s remarks, Dr. Koirala said even if the current NC president lost the election in the general convention, the coalition government would continue and he would make the coalition even stronger.

“PM Deuba today hurt NC cadres with his remark. I want to assure him that the alliance government would not shatter if I am elected the new NC president and that he (Deuba) would still be the prime minister.”

Dr. Koirala further said that he would try to make the NC even stronger if he secures the leadership position. “I will utilize the experience of senior leaders of the party such as Deuba, Ram Chandra Poudel to strengthen the party and the democratic republic of Nepal. I will ensure youth activism in the party.”

He was of the view that the mix of experience of senior leader and energy of youth leaders would make the party more vibrant than ever. Acknowledging ill practices in the party, he viewed reform in the  party would make NC cadres proud of the organization.