Bhubaneswar, Feb. 8 -- Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide VK Pandian does not plan to contest the Lok Sabha election preferring to work towards taking Odisha to "the pinnacle of development."

In an interview with ANI, the former IAS officer asserted that he wants to work for the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

"In 2024, I am not going to contest any elections. I was asked for a party post also. I said, no, I'll just work for Naveen Patnaik. He is my leader. I draw a lot of inspiration from him. He has given me so much freedom for so long to do great work. So I am indebted to him and the State. The people of State have shown so much love and affection for me. So I go with the flow," Pandian said.

The bureaucrat who joined ...