New Delhi/IBNS: In a direct indication of a major crack in the INDIA alliance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal over rising "pollution and inflation" at his first public rally for assembly elections in the national capital.

"Arvind Kejriwal had said that he would clean Delhi, remove corruption, and turn the national capital into Paris. What actually happened - one cannot move around due to pollution and inflation is rising," Gandhi said addressing his 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' public meeting in Seelampur.

"Arvind Kejriwal had talked of removing corruption. Has he removed corruption? Pollution, corruption and inflation are on the rise in Delhi," he said.

Responding to the attack by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Arvind Kejriwal said while Gandhi was fighting to save the Congress, "My fight is to save the country".

"Today, Rahul Gandhi came to Delhi. He abused me a lot. But I will not comment on his statements," he wrote on X in Hindi.

Accusing the AAP of remaining silent on the caste census issue, Gandhi promised a caste survey in Delhi if the Congress formed the government in the national capital.

The Congress leader sought people's support to make the party victorious in Delhi, where it failed to win a single seat in the last two elections. He asserted that the party would ensure Delhi's development as in the past under Sheila Dikshit's government.

"Neither (Arvind) Kejriwal nor the BJP can do what the Congress had done," Gandhi said.

The discord comes ahead of Delhi Assembly polls on Dec 7.