Upset over being ignored in the ticket distribution exercise for the Karnataka Assembly elections, former Union minister C K Jaffer Sharief wanted to retire from active politics. Called by the Congress high command to New Delhi, Sharief is believed to have even shown inclination to accept an earlier offer to be posted as India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. This is an offer that his wife quite endorses, but he had turned it down earlier as it would mean an exit from active politics. While he may have shown fresh interest, Congressmen say he has still not made an explicit request and one would have to wait for the Karnataka results to know which way the Sharief boat sails.