In July 1945, the Labour Party came to power in Britain and hopes were raised for an early settlement of the Indian question. To solve the Indian deadlock, the British Prime Minister Clement Atlee, decided to send a special mission to India in March 1946, consisting of three British Cabinet members Patrick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps and A.V. Alexander.
The objective was to find out ways and means for a negotiated settlement to transfer power to the Indian people. The Cabinet Mission held extensive discussion with the Congress, the Muslim League and other Indian political groups, but failed to reach any agreed settlement on the constitutional issue. Jinnah stood firm on his demand for Pakistan, while Congress vigorously opposed the two-nation theory of Jinnah. The Cabinet Mission also rejected the idea of two sovereign states because that would not solve the problem of the minorities.