D D Lapang of the Congress was on Monday elected as the Parliamentary Party leader of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance at a meeting of the newly-elected MLAs of the Congress, the UDP, the MDP and KHNAM as well as independents in Shillong.

At the same time Chief Minister F A Khonglam submitted his resignation to Governor M M Jacob, who has asked him to continue until the formation of a new ministry, official sources said.

Lapang is also leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly in which the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, comprising of the Congress (22), United Democratic Party (9), Meghalaya Democratic Party (4), Khun Hyniewtrep National Awkening Movement (2) and the independents (3), have a strength of 40 MLAs.

Lapang has staked his claim to form a new ministry in the state in a meeting with the governor with whom he has submitted a list of the MLAs supporting him.

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee President S C Marak said that a resolution was passed at the meeting which named the conglomerate of the parties and independents as Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.

Lapang was elected MDA Chairman, Dr Donkupor Roy (UDP) as deputy chairman, Martle Mukhim (MDP) as Treasurer and R G Lyngdoh (Congress) as the Spokesman at the legislators meeting.

The resolution also pledged to work for the economic development of the state and stability of the government.