Chennai, Aug. 15 -- Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has decided to boycott governor RN Ravi's reception hosted on the occasion of Independence Day, after the latter's scathing attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Thursday, alleging that the state is facing four major challenges- educational and social discrimination of the poor and marginalised; alarming rise in suicides; drug abuse among the youth and a steep rise in rape and other sexual offences against women and girls.

DMK's allies also announced that they will boycott the event to protest against the governor, who they alleged, was acting against the interests of the state.

This is a fresh standoff, adding to an already sour relationship between the governor ...