1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election

The 1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election was held in West Bengal, India, between March 1 and March 22, 1971, to elect members to the 294 constituencies of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. This election was significant as it followed the tumultuous political landscape marked by the 1967 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, which saw the emergence of a coalition government. The 1971 election was primarily contested between the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), with the Congress, led by Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray, seeking to regain control amid rising political challenges. The election resulted in a decisive victory for the Congress, securing 170 seats and reaffirming its dominance in the state assembly.