A 37-year-old municipal policy planner is the new Liberal candidate for the Scarborough-Rouge River provincial byelection, emerging victorious on the first ballot from a field of six candidates.

In an interview following Sunday’s nomination race, candidate Piragal Thiru said he wants to work on improving infrastructure and social services in Scarborough.

“I want to see the Liberals’ great work continue here,” he said.

Thiru said some 1,700 party faithful showed up for the nomination meeting at the Scarborough Convention Centre.

Thiru has a master’s degree from York University in public policy, administration and law. He works for the York Region government.

On Saturday, Toronto City Councillor, Raymond Cho, 79, was acclaimed as the Progressive Conservatives’ candidate in the riding. His campaign is being managed by former city councillor Doug Ford.

Rookie Toronto District School Board Trustee Neethan Shan, 37, was nominated as the New Democrat’s candidate last week. He also works as the executive director of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians.

The seat became vacant when Liberal MPP Bas Balkissoon suddenly resigned from politics in March.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has six months to call the byelection but has not yet chosen a date.