View source for 1971 Indian general election

{{short description|none}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox election
| country = India
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 1967 Indian general election
| previous_year = 1967
| next_election = 1977 Indian general election
| next_year = 1977
| election_date = 1–10 March 1971<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/INDIA_1971_E.PDF India] Inter-Parliamentary Union</ref>
| seats_for_election = 518 of the 521 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]]
| majority_seats = 260
| registered = 274,189,132
| turnout = 55.27% ({{decrease}} 5.77[[Percentage point|pp]])
| image_size = 130x130px
| image1 = Indira Gandhi official portrait.png
| leader1 = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| party1 = Indian National Congress (R)
| last_election1 = 40.78%, 283 seats
| seats1 = '''352'''
| seat_change1 = {{increase}} 69
| popular_vote1 = '''64,033,274'''
| percentage1 = '''43.68%'''
| swing1 = {{increase}} 2.90[[Percentage point|pp]]
| image2 = Sundaraiah-Puchalapalli.jpg
| leader2 = [[Puchalapalli Sundarayya]]
| party2 = Communist Party of India (Marxist)
| last_election2 = 4.28%, 12 seats
| seats2 = 25
| seat_change2 = {{increase}} 6
| popular_vote2 = 7,510,089
| percentage2 = 5.12%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 0.84[[Percentage point|pp]]
| image4 = Ab vajpayee (cropped)1.jpg
| leader4 = [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
| party4 = Bharatiya Jana Sangh
| last_election4 = 9.31%, 35 seats
| seats4 = 22
| seat_change4 = {{decrease}} 13
| popular_vote4 = 10,777,119
| percentage4 = 7.35%
| swing4 = {{decrease}} 1.96 [[Percentage point|pp]]
| image5 = K Kamaraj 1976 stamp of India (cropped).jpg
| leader5 = [[K. Kamaraj]]
| party5 = Indian National Congress (Organisation)
| last_election5 = –
| seats5 = 16
| seat_change5 = ''New''
| popular_vote5 = 15,285,851
| percentage5 = 10.43%
| swing5 = ''New''
| map_image = Wahlergebnisse in Indien 1971.svg
| map_caption = Results by constituency
| title = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]]
| posttitle = [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] after election
| before_election = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| before_party = Indian National Congress (R)
| after_election = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| after_party = Indian National Congress (R)
| outgoing_members = List of members of the 4th Lok Sabha
| elected_members = List of members of the 5th Lok Sabha
| alliance4 = [[Grand Alliance (1971)|Grand Alliance]]
| alliance5 = [[Grand Alliance (1971)|Grand Alliance]]
}}

General elections were held in India between 1 and 10 March 1971 to elect members of the [[5th Lok Sabha|fifth]] [[Lok Sabha]]. They were the fifth general elections since independence in 1947. Members were elected from 518 single-seat constituencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |title=General Election of India 1971, 5th Lok Sabha |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=13 January 2010 |page=6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175452/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Under the leadership of [[Indira Gandhi]], the [[Indian National Congress (R)]] led a campaign which focused on [[Garibi Hatao|reducing poverty]] and won a landslide victory, overcoming a split in the party and regaining many of the seats lost in the previous election.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-07|title=INKredible India: The story of 1971 Lok Sabha election - All you need to know|url=https://zeenews.india.com/lok-sabha-general-elections-2019/the-story-of-1971-lok-sabha-election-all-you-need-to-know-2185812.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=Zee News|language=en|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008232038/https://zeenews.india.com/lok-sabha-general-elections-2019/the-story-of-1971-lok-sabha-election-all-you-need-to-know-2185812.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Background==
===Congress party split===
During Indira Gandhi's previous term, there had been internal divisions in the Indian National Congress caused by various initiatives of her administration like [[nationalisation]] of [[Banking in India|banks]], [[Coal in India|coal]] and steel, abolition of the [[Privy purse in India|privy purse]] and increasing [[India–Soviet Union relations|closeness with the Soviet Union]], steps that were considered to be too [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] by the Congress high command consisting of [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] leaders like [[Morarji Desai]], [[K. Kamaraj]], [[Atulya Ghosh]], [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]], [[S. K. Patil]] and others. In 1969 she was expelled from the party by party president [[S. Nijalingappa]], causing a split. Most of the Congress MPs and grassroots support joined Gandhi's [[Indian National Congress (R)|Indian National Congress (Requisitionists)]] faction, which was recognised by the [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission]] as being the successor to the previous party. 31 MPs who opposed Gandhi formed [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]] party.

===Minority government===
The Second Indira Gandhi government, formed in November 1969 and dissolved in March 1971, was the first minority government in independent India. After the split, the INC(R) held 221 seats in the 523-seat parliament, 41 seats short of a majority. However, Gandhi and her cabinet remained in power by relying on support from left-wing parties like the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (26 seats), the [[Communist Party of India]] and its recently formed breakaway faction, the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(Marxist)]] (who together had 42 seats), giving the government a total of 289 seats, a comfortable majority and far more than the minimum of 262 seats required for a majority. Knowing that her minority government would eventually fall, on 27 December 1970, President V.V. Giri dissolved the Lok Sabha on the recommendation of Gandhi.

===Opposition alliance===
{{see|Grand Alliance (1971)}} 
INC(O) formed a pre-poll alliance with [[Samyukta Socialist Party]] (SSP), [[Praja Socialist Party]] (PSP), the [[Swatantra Party]] and [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] (BJS) and several other regional parties opposed to the INC(R). They agreed to field a single joint candidate against the INC(R) candidate in every constituency in order to defeat Gandhi's party.

==Results==
Despite the split, the ruling faction gained votes and seats to win a strong majority, while the Grand Alliance was badly trounced and lost more than half of their seats.

{{Election results
|image=[[File:Lok Sabha Zusammensetzung 1971.svg|350px]]
|party1=[[Indian National Congress (R)]]|votes1=64033274|seats1=352|sc1=+69
|party2=[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]|votes2=15285851|seats2=16|sc2=New
|party3=[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]|votes3=10777119|seats3=22|sc3=–13
|party4=[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]|votes4=7510089|seats4=25|sc4=+6
|party5=[[Communist Party of India]]|votes5=6933627|seats5=23|sc5=0
|party6=[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]|votes6=5622758|seats6=23|sc6=–2
|party7=[[Swatantra Party]]|votes7=4497988|seats7=8|sc7=–36
|party8=[[Samyukta Socialist Party]]|votes8=3555639|seats8=3|sc8=–20
|party9=[[Bharatiya Kranti Dal]]|votes9=3189821|seats9=1|sc9=New
|party10=[[Telangana Praja Samithi]]|votes10=1873589|seats10=10|sc10=New
|party11=[[Praja Socialist Party]]|votes11=1526076|seats11=2|sc11=–11
|party12=[[Shiromani Akali Dal]]|votes12=1279873|seats12=1|sc12=New
|party13=[[Utkal Congress]]|votes13=1053176|seats13=1|sc13=New
|party14=[[All India Forward Bloc]]|votes14=962971|seats14=2|sc14=0
|party15=[[Peasants and Workers Party of India]]|votes15=741535|seats15=0|sc15=–2
|party16=[[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]|votes16=724001|seats16=3|sc16=New
|party17=[[Republican Party of India (Khobragade)]]|votes17=542662|seats17=0|sc17=New
|party18=[[Kerala Congress]]|votes18=542431|seats18=3|sc18=+3
|party19=[[Bangla Congress]]|votes19=518781|seats19=1|sc19=–4
|party20=[[Indian Union Muslim League]]|votes20=416545|seats20=2|sc20=0
|party21=[[Vishal Haryana Party]]|votes21=352514|seats21=1|sc21=New
|party22=[[All India Jharkhand Party]]|votes22=272563|seats22=1|sc22=New
|party23=[[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]]|votes23=227468|seats23=0|sc23=New
|party24=Shoshit Dal Bihar|votes24=193389|seats24=0|sc24=New
|party25=[[Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)|Socialist Unity Centre of India]]|votes25=157703|seats25=0|sc25=New
|party26=[[Republican Party of India]]|votes26=153794|seats26=1|sc26=0
|party27=Janta Party|votes27=139091|seats27=0|sc27=New
|party28=[[All Party Hill Leaders Conference]]|votes28=90772|seats28=1|sc28=0
|party29=[[United Front of Nagaland]]|votes29=89514|seats29=1|sc29=New
|party30=[[Hindu Mahasabha]]|votes30=73191|seats30=0|sc30=New
|party31=[[Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League]]|votes31=72131|seats31=0|sc31=New
|party32=[[Bihar Prant Hul Jharkhand]]|votes32=66669|seats32=0|sc32=New
|party33=Hindustani Shoshit Dal|votes33=65925|seats33=0|sc33=New
|party34=[[Revolutionary Communist Party of India]]|votes34=65622|seats34=0|sc34=New
|party35=[[Lok Sewak Sangh]]|votes35=62527|seats35=0|sc35=New
|party36=[[Jana Congress]]|votes36=60103|seats36=0|sc36=0
|party37=[[Nagaland Nationalist Organisation]]|votes37=58511|seats37=0|sc37=–1
|party38=[[United Goans Party|United Goans – Seqveria Group]]|votes38=58401|seats38=1|sc38=0
|party39=[[Socialist Party (India, 1948)|Socialist Party]]|votes39=55064|seats39=0|sc39=New
|party40=[[Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party]]|votes40=54597|seats40=0|sc40=New
|party41=Proutist Bloc of India|votes41=43849|seats41=0|sc41=New
|party42=[[Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee|Telangana Congress]]|votes42=43548|seats42=0|sc42=New
|party43=Minorities Labour Party|votes43=41198|seats43=0|sc43=New
|party44=[[Indian Socialist Party]]|votes44=38713|seats44=0|sc44=New
|party45=[[All India Muslim Majlis (Dr. Faridi)|Muslim Majlis Uttar Pradesh]]|votes45=36526|seats45=0|sc45=New
|party46=[[Lok Raj Party Himachal Pradesh]]|votes46=34070|seats46=0|sc46=New
|party47=Uttar Pradesh Kisan Mazdoor Party|votes47=31729|seats47=0|sc47=New
|party48=[[Manipur Peoples Party]]|votes48=31029|seats48=0|sc48=New
|party49=[[Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad]]|votes49=24093|seats49=0|sc49=New
|party50=Republican Party of India (Ambedkarite)|votes50=22428|seats50=0|sc50=New
|party51=Backward Classes Mahasabha|votes51=6929|seats51=0|sc51=New
|party52=Revolutionary Socialist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)|votes52=6198|seats52=0|sc52=New
|party53=Chota Nagpur Bhumi Rakshak Party|votes53=4982|seats53=0|sc53=New
|party54=Independents|votes54=12279629|seats54=14|sc54=–21
|row55=Appointed members{{efn|Two representing [[Anglo-Indians]] and one representing the [[North-East Frontier Agency]].}}|seats55=3|sc55=0
|invalid=4934526
|electorate=274189132
|total_sc=–2
|source=[https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4115-general-election-1971-vol-i-ii/?do=download&r=9746&confirm=1&t=1&csrfKey=6df04992cf2c2fe96a9487465b425663 ECI]
}}
{{notelist}}

===Results by state===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center; font-size: 0.9em;"
! rowspan="3" |State
! rowspan="3" |Total<br>seats
! colspan="14" |Seats won
|-
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Indian National Congress (R)|INC (R)]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPM]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Communist Party of India|CPI]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh|BJS]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)|INC (O)]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Telangana Praja Samithi|TPS]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Swatantra Party|SWA]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Samyukta Socialist Party|SSP]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Praja Socialist Party|PSP]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |[[Bharatiya Kranti Dal|BKD]]
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |Others
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |Ind.
! class="unsortable" style="width:45px;" |App.
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Communist Party of India}};" |
! style="background:{{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Telangana Praja Samithi}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Swatantra Party}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Samyukta Socialist Party}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Praja Socialist Party}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Bharatiya Kranti Dal}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Others}};;" |
! style="background:{{party color|Independent}};;" |
! 
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
!1
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Andhra Pradesh]]
!41
|28
|1
|1
|
|
|
|10
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Assam]]
!14
|13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Bihar]]
!53
|39
|
|5
|
|2
|3
|
|
|2
|
|
|1
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Chandigarh]]
!1
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]
!1
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Delhi]]
!7
|7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Goa, Daman and Diu]]
!2
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Gujarat]]
!24
|11
|
|
|
|
|11
|
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Haryana]]
!9
|7
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Himachal Pradesh]]
!4
|4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
!6
|5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Kerala]]
!19
|6
|2
|3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|7
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Lakshadweep|Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands]]
!1
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Madhya Pradesh]]
!37
|21
|
|
|
|11
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|
|4
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Maharashtra]]
!45
|42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|2
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Manipur]]
!2
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Mysore State|Mysore]]
!27
|27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Nagaland]]
!1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[North-East Frontier Agency]]
!1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Orissa]]
!20
|15
|
|1
|
|
|
|
|3
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[East Punjab|Punjab]]
!13
|10
|
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Pondicherry (union territory)|Pondicherry]]
!1
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Rajasthan]]
!23
|14
|
|
|
|4
|
|
|3
|
|
|
|
|2
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Tamil Nadu]]
!39
|9
|
|4
|23
|
|1
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Tripura]]
!2
|
|2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Uttar Pradesh]]
!85
|73
|
|4
|
|4
|1
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|2
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[West Bengal]]
!40
|13
|20
|3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|1
|
|2
|1
|
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |[[Anglo-Indian people|Anglo-Indians]]
!2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|2
|-
! style="text-align: left;" |Total
!521
!352
!25
!23
!23
!22
!16
!10
!8
!3
!2
!1
!19
!14
!3
|-
! colspan="16" |
|-
| colspan="16" |Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175452/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf ECI]
|}

===State wise Detailed===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- "
! style="text-align:left; background:#ccf; vertical-align:middle;"|State <br /> (# of seats)
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"  style=" text-align:center; background:#ccf; vertical-align:middle;"|Party
! style="background:#ccf; text-align:center;"|Seats contested
! style="background:#ccf; text-align:right;"|Seats won
! style="background:#ccf; text-align:right;"|% of votes
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=6 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh]]'''(41)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''37'''
|'''28'''
|'''55.73'''
|-
| {{party color cell|[[Telangana Praja Samithi]]}}
|[[Telangana Praja Samithi]]
|14
|10
|14.33
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|[[Communist Party Of India]]
|11
|1
|5.94
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
| [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|5
|1
|2.82
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|93
|1
|8.21
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
|12
|0
|5.55
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=5 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Assam|Assam]]'''(14)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''13'''
|'''13'''
|'''56.98'''
|-
| {{party color cell|All Party Hill Leaders Conference}}
|[[All Party Hill Leaders Conference]]
|1
|1
|3.0
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|[[Communist Party Of India]]
|5
|0
|5.65
|-
| {{party color cell|Praja Socialist Party}}
|[[Praja Socialist Party]]
|5
|0
|4.56
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|31
|0
|17.92
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=6 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Bihar|Bihar]]'''(53)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''47'''
|'''39'''
|'''40.06'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
| [[Communist Party of India]]
|17
|5
|9.85
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
|24
|3
|11.51
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|28
|2
|12.1
|-
| {{party color cell|Samyukta Socialist Party}}
| [[Samyukta Socialist Party]]
|28
|2
|9.47
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|183
|1
|9.11
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=3 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Gujarat|Gujarat]]'''(24)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''23'''
|'''11'''
|'''44.85'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
|19
|11
|39.70
|-
| {{party color cell|Swatantra Party}}
|[[Swatantra Party]]
|4
|2
|5.46
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=4 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Haryana|Haryana]]'''(9)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''9'''
|'''7'''
|'''52.56'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|3
|1
|11.19
|-
| {{party color cell|Vishal Haryana Party}}
|[[Vishal Haryana Party]]
|3
|1
|9.16
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
|4
|0
|11.34
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=3 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election, 1999 (Jammu and Kashmir)|Jammu & Kashmir]]'''(6)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''6'''
|'''5'''
|'''54.06'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|20
|1
|32.17
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|3
|0
|12.23
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=7 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Kerala|Kerala]]'''(19)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''7'''
|'''6'''
|'''19.75'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
| [[Communist Party of India]]
|3
|3
|9.09
|-
| {{party color cell|Kerala Congress}}
|[[Kerala Congress]]
|3
|3
|8.31
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
| [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
|11
|2
|26.21
|-
| {{party color cell|Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party}}
| [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]
|2
|2
|6.43
|-
| {{party color cell|Muslim League}}
|[[Indian Union Muslim League|Muslim League]]
|2
|2
|5.62
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|27
|1
|17.97
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=4 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Madhya Pradesh|Madhya Pradesh]]'''(37)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''36'''
|'''21'''
|'''45.60'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|28
|11
|33.56
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|73
|4
|13.93
|-
| {{party color cell|Samyukta Socialist Party}}
|[[Samyukta Socialist Party]]
|5
|1
|1.57
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=6 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Maharashtra|Maharashtra]]'''(45)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''44'''
|'''42'''
|'''63.18'''
|-
| {{party color cell|All India Forward Bloc}}
| [[All India Forward Bloc]]
|3
|1
|2.47
|-
| {{party color cell|Praja Socialist Party}}
|[[Praja Socialist Party]]
|8
|1
|1.68
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party Of India}}
|[[Republican Party Of India]]
|1
|1
|1.11
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|13
|0
|5.23
|-
| {{party color cell|Peasants And Workers Party Of India}}
|[[Peasants And Workers Party Of India]]
|12
|0
|5.33
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=2 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Mysore|Mysore]]'''(27)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''27'''
|'''27'''
|'''70.87'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
|17
|0
|16.36
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"rowspan=4 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Orissa|Orissa]]'''(20)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''19'''
|'''15'''
|'''38.46'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Swatantra Party}}
|[[Swatantra Party]]
|13
|3
|15.91
|-
| {{party color cell|Utkal Congress}}
|[[Utkal Congress]]
|20
|1
|23.6
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
|[[Communist Party of India]]
|3
|1
|4.31
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=3 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Punjab|Punjab]]'''(13)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''11'''
|'''10'''
|'''45.96'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
|[[Communist Party of India]]
|2
|2
|6.22
|-
| {{party color cell|Shiromani Akali Dal}}
|[[Shiromani Akali Dal]]
|12
|1
|30.85
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=4 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Rajasthan|Rajasthan]]'''(23)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''23'''
|'''14'''
|'''50.35'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|7
|4
|12.38
|-
| {{party color cell|Swatantra Party}}
|[[Swatantra Party]]
|8
|3
|14.64
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|71
|2
|12.34
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=6 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu]]'''(39)'''
| {{party color cell| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|'''24'''
|'''23'''
|'''35.25'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|9
|9
|12.51
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
| [[Communist Party of India]] 
|4
|4
|5.43
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
|29
|1
|30.43
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|27
|1
|3.24
|-
| {{party color cell|All India Forward Bloc}}
|[[All India Forward Bloc]]
|1
|1
|1.31
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=7 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]]'''(85)'''
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|'''78'''
|'''73'''
|'''48.54'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Jana Sangh}}
|[[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]]
|37
|4
|12.23
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India}}
| [[Communist Party of India]]
|9
|4
|3.7
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|231
|2
|8.4
|-
| {{party color cell|Bharatiya Kranti Dal}}
|[[Bharatiya Kranti Dal]]
|67
|1
|12.70
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (Organisation)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
|44
|1
|8.6
|-
| {{party color cell|Samyukta Socialist Party}}
| [[Samyukta Socialist Party]]
|25
|0
|4.1
|-
|style="text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;" rowspan=8 valign=top|[[1971 Indian general election in West Bengal|West Bengal]]'''(40)'''
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
| [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] 
|'''38'''
|'''20'''
|'''34.29'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Indian National Congress (R)}}
|[[Indian National Congress (R)]]
|31
|13
|28.2
|-
| {{party color cell|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|[[Communist Party Of India]] 
|15
|3
|10.54
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)|Independent}}
|[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|28
|1
|5.79
|-
| {{party color cell|Bangla Congress}}
| [[Bangla Congress]]
|14
|1
|3.97
|-
| {{party color cell|Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party}}
| [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]]
|5
|1
|2.04
|-
| {{party color cell|Praja Socialist Party}}
|[[Praja Socialist Party]]
|3
|1
|1.29
|-
| {{party color cell|All India Forward Bloc}}
|[[All India Forward Bloc]]
|10
|0
|2.7
|-
|colspan=6|Source:[https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175452/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf ECI]
|}

==Aftermath==
On 12 June 1975 the Allahabad High Court invalidated the result in Gandhi's constituency on the grounds of electoral malpractices. Instead of resigning, Indira Gandhi called [[The Emergency (India)|a state of emergency]], suspending democracy and outlawed political opposition. After democracy was restored in 1977, the opposition Congress faction formed a coalition of parties called the [[Janata Party]], which inflicted the Congress's first electoral defeat.

==See also==
*[[List of members of the 5th Lok Sabha]]
*[[:Category:1971 Indian general election by state or union territory]]
*[[1969 Indian presidential election]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian elections}}

[[Category:1971 Indian general election| ]]
[[Category:March 1971 in Asia|General]]
[[Category:1971 elections in Asia|India]]
[[Category:General elections in India]]