Could not leave farmers for vice presidential poll: Sharad Yadav

New Delhi -  Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav Tuesday said he did not contest the vice presidential election because he did not want to leave the farmers.

"They asked me to contest the election. They said it would make the contest interesting," Yadav said. "But I said I cannot leave the farmers."

Yadav, who is also the convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), was the opposition alliance's first choice for fighting the vice presidential poll.

He, however, turned it down citing interest in active politics.

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh has been named the NDA candidate for the election against incumbent Hamid Ansari, who is being backed by the ruling United  Progressive Alliance.