What was the outcome of the Grand Alliance's performance in terms of seats in the 1971 elections?

They secured less than 40 seats.

The Lok Sabha elections of 1971 yielded outcomes as remarkable as the decision to conduct these elections. The alliance between Congress (R) and CPI achieved an impressive feat, securing more seats and votes than the Congress had ever attained in the initial four general elections. Together, they clinched a whopping 375 seats in the Lok Sabha and garnered an impressive 48.4 percent of the total votes. On its own, Indira Gandhi's Congress (R) secured a commendable 352 seats with about 44 percent of the overall popular votes.

In stark contrast, the performance of Congress (O) was quite underwhelming. Despite boasting numerous influential leaders, the party managed to amass less than a quarter of the votes garnered by Indira Gandhi's faction and secured a mere 16 seats. This marked a significant disparity in outcomes. The resounding victory of Indira Gandhi's Congress (R) solidified its claim as the "authentic" Congress and reinstated its predominant standing in the Indian political landscape.

On the contrary, the Grand Alliance formed by the opposition experienced a substantial setback. Their cumulative tally of seats fell short of 40, underlining a lack of success in their collective endeavor.