Bhubaneswar, May 25: Three years after Barsa Swony Choudhury, the 26-year-old daughter-in-law of former minister Raghunath Mohanty brought dowry torture allegations against her husband Raja Shree, 31, and her in-laws, the estranged couple today decided to give their marriage another shot with a public announcement of their reunion at what turned out to be a media event here.

The reunion announced at a news conference was no less dramatic than their bitter falling out in 2013 which had triggered political convulsions in the BJD with Raghunath Mohanty, then law minister, being sacked and arrested along with his wife.

As flash bulbs popped, Barsa and Raja fed each other sweets at a city hotel and announced their desire to live as husband and wife again amid clapping from her parents and Raja's relatives. The event was organised by Barsa Swony Foundation, which is widely believed to have brokered peace between them.

Though the absence of Raja's parents raised a few eyebrows, he appeared unfazed and determined to give his marriage another shot. He said their reunion would set an example for others in troubled relationships. "We have reunited after three years despite a chain of events. This can happen only when you change at the mental level. I am happy that we have finally sorted out the issues between us amicably," said Raja, whose father, a five-time legislator from Basta in Balasore, was one of the most powerful ministers in the Naveen Patnaik government till dowry torture allegations derailed his political career.

The episode not only sullied his public image and forced him to step down as a minister but also resulted in BJD denying him a party ticket in the 2014 Assembly elections.

Raja, however, declined to comment on whether his decision to reunite with his wife was a move to save his father's political career. "I don't want to comment on that. He has been accepted by the people of his district. My father will continue to fight for them," he said.

The political career of 66-year-old Raghunath Mohanty took a tumble following Barsa's allegations in 2013 that her in-laws had demanded Rs 25 lakh and a luxury car as dowry after her marriage to Raja in June 2012, and began torturing her when her family refused to meet the demand.

Raghunath, who was elected to the 10th and 11th Assembly on a Janata Dal ticket before joining the Biju Janata Dal and winning three subsequent elections on its ticket, stepped down from the ministry on "moral" grounds following the controversy. He had served as a minister between 2006 and 2013 holding several important portfolios, including steel and mines, housing and urban development, law and panchayati raj.

Raghunath was not available for comment on today's development.

Barsa, who after a bitter parting with her husband, had been fighting an alimony case and also taking potshots at her husband and her in-laws before the media, appeared to be a completely different woman today. "There was a misunderstanding between us and our families, which we have cleared. We will strengthen our relationship as husband and wife. The decision of reunion was taken by both the families," she said, giving as much credit to her husband who, she described as her strength.

When asked about the absence of the former minister and his wife at the event, Barsa said another "reunion" function would be held in Balasore where her in-laws would be present. "I will go to my in-laws' house as their daughter. I hope they will accept me and shower me with love and affection," said Barsa.

Barsa's parents expressed their happiness over the reunion. "We always wanted her married life to be peaceful. We are happy that they have come out of a bad phase. It is so good to see them again as husband and wife again," said Barsa's father.