The Indian National Congress officially appointed Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as its representatives to negotiate with the Cripps Mission in 1942. Mahatma Gandhi had advised against direct negotiation, and Sardar Patel was not part of the formal negotiation team. While Rajagopalachari was a prominent Congress leader, he was not an official negotiator in this capacity. Rajendra Prasad and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai were also important figures but were not the primary designated negotiators.