DHNS
Bangalore/New Delhi, May 2: C K Jaffer Sharief’s bruised ego might receive a soothing balm after the Karnataka elections – in the form of ambassadorship to Saudi Arabia.
Congress sources on Thursday said the senior leader, who had to be placated by AICC president Sonia Gandhi last Sunday after he threatened to quit the party in protest against his grandson being denied a ticket to fight elections, had shown interest in such an assignment.
In fact, sources said, Mr Sharief might have already been appointed the ambassador to Saudi, but for an extension given recently to incumbent M O H Farook, the former Pondicherry chief minister, who has been in the position since 2004.
Ticket denial
However, once the hurly burly of the State elections are over, the Centre might look into the possibility of sending Mr Sharief as the ambassador there to "compensate" him against the high command’s refusal to give his grandson Abdul Wahab the party ticket.
"Mr Sharief is interested in taking up the position, particularly because his wife too is keen that he goes there because the country is the holiest place for Muslims," sources said.
The party high command, sources said, is also open to offering him a Rajya Sabha seat in the elections slated to be held immediately after Assembly polls in case the ambassadorship does not materialise.
Incidentally, some reports claim Mr Sharief has been offered the post of Maharashtra Governor, lying vacant since S M Krishna returned. But those in the know of the veteran leader’s politics claim he is unlikely to leave active politics and go into "semi-retirement in a Raj Bhavan". "However, the ambassador’s position is a different proposition because of the importance of Saudi Arabia among Muslims," sources said.