KOTTAYAM: District panchayat member Nebu John, confidante of former chief minister Oommen Chandy, said that he will not contest against Chandy Oommen in Puthupally. He told a media that no party has approached him and that he had also not approached anyone.

He said that he contested local body polls as per the directions of Oommen Chandy. There were reports that Nebu John will be the LDF candidate in Puthupally. He said that he doesn’t know how such a news came.

There were reports that the CPM held talks with Nebu John, the leader of the opposition in the district panchayat, and that the announcement of the left candidate was delayed despite the start of Chandy Oommen's campaign in Puthupally, was to bring Nebu to their side.