Following reports that some senior opposition leaders were planning to leave for Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday night itself, Lucknow police threw a security ring around the houses of all top opposition leaders in Lucknow. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi reached Lucknow late on Sunday evening, and despite a security ring around her residence, she managed to sneak out and walked 2 km and got into her car to leave for Lakhimpur. When reports last came in well after midnight, police were planning to intercept her motorcade before it crossed Sitapur borders. BSP general secretary SC Mishra, too, was about to leave in the night itself, but was stopped at his Lucknow house.