Twenty five of the total 28 Congress MLAs were present at the CLP meeting when Sangma was elected CLP head after 76-year-old Lapang submitted his resignation to Governor R S Mooshahary.

“I have stepped down gracefully and willingly. The majority is with Mukul Sangma. I respect the sentiments of the MLAs,” Lapang, who had taken charge in May last year dislodging a NCP-led coalition government, said after resigning from chief ministership at the Raj Bhavan.