A Parliament Hill scrum is rarely the place to offer a friendly handshake — but that’s exactly how new NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wrapped up his first scrum with press gallery reporters on Monday afternoon.

“I don’t know how you do this. How do you choose?” he said, laughing, as roughly 20 reporters lobbed questions at the 38-year-old Ontario MPP after he took in his first question period as party leader from the lobby of the House of Commons.

Singh, elected on the first ballot Sunday afternoon, was asked questions about how he plans to manage the party while he does not have a seat in the House of Commons, and when exactly he plans to seek a seat.

Singh said he has chosen an MP to lead the caucus in his stead, but did not say when he plans to name the person.

“That person’s going to be someone who can help us unify the party,” Singh said. “We have the person, we just need to work out some details and will be announcing that as soon as we can.”

Singh also brushed off suggestions that he could struggle to remain relevant without a Commons seat. He said that while he does not feel a urgent need to run for a seat, the riding he chooses to contest won’t necessarily be in the Greater Toronto Area.

“I think it’s important to have an authentic connection to the riding and there’s different places that I have an authentic connection,” he said. “You all know that I lived in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, for a little bit. I feel like I’ve got some Atlantic connection as well as where I grew up in Windsor and the GTA.”

Former Liberal cabinet minister Judy Foote’s recent resignation leaves the Random-Burin-St. George’s seat vacant; a by-election is expected soon.

Singh, who said he will be resigning his seat in the Ontario legislature to lead the party, said he is open to suggestions from his advisers.

NDP national director Robert Fox said that for the time being Singh will be paid by the party — an amount yet to be disclosed — because he can’t be paid through parliamentary channels.

Fox also said the new leader plans to visit every province and territory as part of an introductory tour leading up to the party’s policy convention in February.

During the leadership race, Singh — a former criminal defence attorney — pitched proposals on decriminalizing drug possession and sex work.

With files from the Canadian Press