Rajya Sabha Independent member Pyarimohan Mohapatra was seen with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the same dais on Thursday three years after their acrimonious fallout. The two estranged leaders attended the inauguration of a passenger train from Begunia to Khordha at the Begunia railway station. Earlier in the day, asked whether he would like to talk to Patnaik, Mohapatra had said, "There would be nine invitees, three MPs, two MlAs, two Union Ministers, the CM and myself. I cannot say whether I will sit beside the Chief Minister."
Whether there would be an opportunity to have a chat with Patnaik, Mohapatra had said it was not a matter of opportunity. "No matter what difference of opinion you have with another person, you have to speak to people for the sake of manners and etiquette. I am willing to talk to anyone with whom I have serious enmity," he said.