A total of 223 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of assembly polls comprising 20 seats in Chhattisgarh. The candidates include state Congress chief Deepak Baij and former chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Raman Singh. The polls for these 20 seats in the Naxalite-affected districts of Bastar division and four other districts will take place on November 7. Votes will be counted on December 3. A total of 294 candidates had filed their nominations for the first phase, and after scrutiny, 253 candidates were found to have valid papers. On Monday, 30 candidates withdrew their nomination, leaving 223 candidates in the fray.