Orakhelashvili was reinstated in his former post of First Secretary of the Transcaucasian Party Committee on On 31 October 1931, in place of Lavrenty Kartvelishvili, who had clashed with Lavrentiy Beria. When Stalin proposed that Beria be appointed as second secretary on the same day, Orakhelashvili reputedly exclaimed: "Koba, what did you say? Maybe I misheard.
Orakhelashvili was restored to his former position as First Secretary of the Transcaucasian Party Committee on October 31, 1931, in place of Lavrenty Kartvelishvili, who had argued with Lavrentiy Beria. When Stalin suggested that Beria be appointed as Second Secretary on the same day, Orakhelashvili reportedly exclaimed: "Koba, what did you say? Maybe I misunderstood.