While Rahul Gandhi tries 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', his Congress party implodes in Goa; BJP mocks

At a time when former Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi is conducting a pan-India movement along with some senior leaders in a bid to revive the party which has seen a serious slump in last several months, a major crisis erupted in the south-western state of Goa where as many as eight out of 11 members of the state legislative assembly joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reducing the opposition to just three.

The mass defection led by top leaders such as Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo caused the Congress an embarrassment in the middle of its 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' (Unite India movement) and the BJP mocked it saying "Jodo (unite) your party first".

Since the eight lawmakers breaking away as a group constitutes two-thirds of the party's strength, they can avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.

It may be mentioned here that the grand-old party seemed to have averted a defection bid in Goa just a few months ago.

Lobo said, "It is Congress chhodo (quit Congress), BJP ko jodo (help the BJP)," as the members of the assembly announced their switch in what is being alleged as yet another case of 'Operation Lotus', named after the BJP's poll symbol. It is the saffron party's alleged strategy for gaining power in those states where it lacks enough seats to form its own government.

"It's 'Operation Kichad (Mud)'," Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera responded to the episode.

"The BJP used all kinds of tactics — central probe agencies, threats by goons, lure of money — to do this, because it is rattled by the Bharat Jodo Yatra," he added.

Congress ally Goa Forward Party said the defecting lawmakers are "symbols of pure evil".

Kamat and Lobo were at the centre of the switchover rumour in July too, and the Congress had even sought for their disqualification under the anti-defection law.

Lobo was removed as the leader of the opposition but no replacement was named.

On Wednesday (14) morning, the lawmakers' meeting with the speaker of the assembly triggered speculation as the assembly is currently not in session.

State BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade confirmed to Press Trust of India that the lawmakers were joining the saffron party.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's seat number in the 40-member Goa assembly now goes up to 33 from 25. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance has four of which the Congress has three and Goa Forward Party one. The Aam Aadmi Party has two seats while Revolutionary Goans Party has one.