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.
On October 31, 1931, Orakhelashvili was reappointed to his former position of First Secretary of the Transcaucasian Party Committee in place of Lavrenty Kartvelishvili, who had a disagreement with Lavrentiy Beria. When Stalin suggested that Beria be appointed as Second Secretary on the same day, Orakhelashvili reportedly said: "Koba, what did you say? Maybe I misheard.