Starting his election campaign from Pilibhit, he said that the people of Pilibhi have made up their mind to defeat BJP and the ruling party is scared.

He said, "The faces of BJP people turn pale on hearing the name of Pilibhit."

The SP President also attacked the BJP government on the issue of electoral bonds and demonetisation. "Tell me if these electoral bonds and demonetisation are not a way of converting black money into white. They have converted all their black money into white," he alleged.

Samajwadi Party has fielded Bhagwat Sharan Gangwar against BJP's Jitin Prasad and BSP's Anees Ahmed on this seat. Pilibhit, which has over 18 lakh voters, will go to polls in the first round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on April 19.

Samajwadi Party, Congress and All India Trinamool Congress are contesting the elections in Uttar Pradesh as part of the Bharat alliance.