The Congress on Wednesday squarely blamed the BJP for its eight MLAs crossing over to the saffron party in Goa, saying it was resorting to such means unnerved by the tremendous response the Bharat Jodo Yatra was receiving.

"Operation Kichad of BJP in Goa has been fast tracked because of the visible success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. BJP is nervous. A daily dose of diversion & disinformation is handed out to undermine the Yatra. We remain undeterred. We will overcome these dirty tricks of the BJP," said party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh in a tweet.