A fresh controversy erupted in Maharashtra after the Mumbai civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), released a crackers-free Diwali campaign video featuring actor Dia Mirza, prompting objections from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. As criticism mounted, with prominent leaders such as Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde joining the backlash , the civic body removed the video from its social media handles, but retained the ones shot by cricketer Ajinkya Rahane and actor Madhuri Dixit.

The controversy, however, extended beyond Dia Mirza’s Diwali video, bringing to the surface the underlying power clash between the BMC and the Mumbai Mayor.

After BMC’s Diwali campaign video starring Dia Mirza went live, Ritu Tawde called a press conference and alleged that she was not consulted by the civic authorities about roping in the actor.…