Kathmandu, Jan. 13 -- As supporters of the Nepali Congress's special general convention pressed ahead with proceedings, party president Sher Bahadur Deuba and his camp, who opposed the convention, were struggling to formulate a clear strategy to find a middle ground and keep the party intact.

After the closed-door session progressed in line with the procedures endorsed by the special convention, as of 11pm on Monday, fear loomed that the situation could escalate to the point of a party split.

By Monday evening, multiple rounds of talks were underway among Congress leaders to defuse the tension after the closed door session of the special general convention endorsed a proposal to elect a new party leadership, including the central workin...