Those under detention are revealing the sensational corruption of their party sepremos, and the public is learning with a measure of trepidation how low our leaders could stoop to aggrandise themselves.

There are ignominious revelations about extortion, money-laundering, and acceptance of commissions on business and purchase deals, that our leaders resorted to during their rules. Obviously, the revelations have jolted the public psyche. The sleazy deals also benefited the minions who formed an invisible cabal of cronies, and made unbelievable fortunes. This is politics of delusion and shenanigans per se.

Where do we go from here? As expected, the new mantra is that of an anti-corruption drive, which is in full swing, to restore public moral, bring back confidence in the society, and put the polity in some shape. For the purpose, an interim government is in place, which has set out for reforms -- a new refrain. It is, however, a Byzantine riddle, with few having any clear idea of what these reforms are all about, and who is supposed to initiate them.

Even if there is ambivalence with regard to the much-ballyhooed reforms, the staple of political discourse today is the political future of the chiefs of the two major political parties who are in the dock, and whom the authorities seem to be closing in on. The macabre drama surrounding them seems to confirm the prospect of their being denied participation in the country's politics in the future.

The plans are afoot, as the leakages in the press suggest, to replace them with the dissidents in their parties, as well as political non-entities from elsewhere, who will be malleable to the establishment's gameplan. If the past, as well as paradigms elsewhere, is any guide, the scheme will work. Because the power-wielders always and everywhere hold the levers to make things work. They can also prove and disprove things.

If it happens that way, it will be motorway to nowhere; neither will it the follow the roadmap of democracy, nor will ensure good governance and rule of law by honest and competent persons. There are few reasons for getting excited over such initiative. It will only fuel scepticism about our political future. As in every sphere of life there are rules of the game in politics, and more so in democracies. It is axiomatic that the failures of both Begum Zia and Sheikh Hasina are enormous, for which they are answerable to the people. People are the ultimate arbiters for deciding the fate of their leadership.

Notwithstanding their limitations and failures, both Sheikh Hasina and Begum Zia represent the country's two great political legacies, which are likely to continue for as long as long as the nation survives. Both have developed a unique chemistry with the masses of the land, who have the final voice in reforming politics. If reforms are faithfully done, and credible elections are held on a level playing ground for three consecutive terms, the politics of delusion will be weeded out and the arrangement for caretaker set up will just be redundant.

But the politics of denial is not only immoral, it also negates the fundamental principle of democracy. A lackadaisical Begum Zia gives the impression of being ready to call it a day, while a combative Sheikh Hasina is still parrying the blows. Yet neither of them has yet met her waterloo in politics. They are yet to be decisively abandoned by the people they lead. Till then they ought to be provided with the chance for fighting another day. Unless that happens, the people themselves will be denied the right they deserve to exercise.

Brig ( retd) Hafiz is former DG of BIISS.