Elections to the fifth Orissa Legislative Assembly were held in 5 March 1971.
The elections were held for 140 seats. A total of 835 candidates contested for these 140 seats.
Three national parties, Communist Party of India, Indian National Congress (R) and Swatantra Party along with the state party Utkal Congress took part in the assembly election. Congress (R) party emerged again as the winner by winning 40% of the seats with a vote share of 28.74%.
The United Front a coalition of Swatantra Party who won 36 Assembly seats and the new regional party Utkal Congress who won 33 Assembly seats formed the government under the leadership of Independent candidate Bishwanath Das.
Das resigned on June 14, 1972, due to defection of a large number of members from the ruling coalition and on same day Nandini Satpathy of the Indian National Congress (R) formed the government and continued till March 1973. Nandini Satpathy ousted due in-fighting of the members after which there was imposition of President's rule in the state.