Orissa Assembly Election Results in 1971

Elections to the 5th Legislative Assembly in Orissa were held in March 1971, after President’s rule was imposed in the state for a brief period prior to these elections. Owing to differences between the Swatantra Party and the newly-formed Odisha Jana Congress of Harekrushna Mahatab, the coalition broke-up and the Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo government fell in January 1971, leading to imposition of President’s rule for a brief period from January to March 1971. Fresh elections were held in the same year, with candidates from political parties contesting for a total of 140 Assembly constituencies. Though the Indian National Congress won 51 out of the 140 Assembly constituencies in which it contested, it could not form the government as it did not have a majority. The Swatantra Party, winning 36 Assembly seats, and the new regional party Utkal Congress (33 seats) formed the Coalition called the United Front and came to power. Biswanath Das, an independent candidate, became the Chief Minister of Orissa during this term. However, due to defection of a large number of members from the ruling coalition, the government fell, with Das resigning in June 1972. Nandini Satpathy of the Indian National Congress formed the government on 14 June 1972 and continued till March 1973, after which there was imposition of President’s rule in the state.

Successive changes in the post of Governor were witnessed during this period. While Dr. Shaukatullah Shah Ansari remained in the prestigious post for a few months of this period, he was subsequently replaced by Sardar Jojendra Singh, who was finally substituted by Justice Gatikrishna Misra as Governor. Nanda Kishore Misra was the Speaker of the Orissa Vidhan Sabha during this period.

Some of the most important legislations passed in the Orissa Legislative Assembly during this period were:

• Orissa Agriculture Income-Tax (Amendment) Act, 1971
• Orissa Prevention of Land Encroachment Ordinance, 1971
• Orissa Entertainment Tax (Amendment) Act, 1972
• Orissa Forest Act, 1972
• Orissa Prevention of Land Encroachment Act, 1972
• Orissa Prohibition of Alienation of Land Ordinance, 1972
• Orissa Motor Vehicles Taxation Laws (Amendment) Act, 1973
• Government Land Settlement (Amendment) Act, 1973

List of Successful Candidates in Orissa Assembly Election in 1971

List of Participating Political Parties in Orissa Assembly Election in 1971