Virendra Pratap Shahi

Virendra Pratap Shahi (15 August 1947 – 31 March 1997) was an Indian gangster -politician from Uttar Pradesh who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Lakshmipur constituency in Maharajganj district. He served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Lakshmipur Assembly constituency of Uttar Pradesh.

Career Shahi entered active politics in 1981 after winning a by-election from the Lakshmipur Assembly constituency as an independent candidate. He went on to serve as an MLA from June 1981 to March 1985 and again from March 1985 to November 1989.

He was regarded as an influential political figure in the Purvanchal region, known for his strong grassroots connect and organizational capabilities. During his political career, he developed a significant support base and played an active role in regional politics.

Shahi was initially associated with the Rashtriya Sanjay Manch and later joined the Janata Dal, reflecting his evolving political affiliations over time. known for his involvement in the gang war between him and Hari Shankar Tiwari, another gangster-turned-politician. The two warlords were involved in approximately 50 murders, and their gang war became a folklore in the Purvanchal region, earning it the sobriquet of Chicago of the East and Slice of Sicily. He was shot dead in 1997 by a gangster Shri Prakash Shukla.

He was known for his manipulative skills and his ability to win government contracts and influence people. In 1981, he contested the assembly (by-poll) elected from the Lakshmipur assembly constituency of Maharajganj district as an Independent candidate and won the election against Amarmani Tripathi, a close aide of Hari Shankar Tiwari.

The gang war between Shahi and Tiwari originated before the Emergency period. Tiwari was involved in student politics, while Shahi maintained close ties with Ram Kinkar Singh, a former MLA of Basti. He was living in Basti.