ADVOCATE BK Sekhar (51), BJP state vice-president and candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Constituency, in the recently concluded assembly polls, died of liver cancer on April 20. He fainted during campaigning and was rushed to hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. The end came at Amrita Hospital in Kochi.
Hailing from a business family in the capital which had close ties with the NSS, he started his political activities with the Vidyarthi and Yuva Morchas. He rose to become district president of BJP in Thiruvananthapuram and State Media Cell convener. Apart from his vice- presidentship, he was also the official spokesperson of the party. He was also a Kerala University Senate Member and Director of Canara Bank.
He had a flair for cultivating relationships with media, other political, social and cultural personalities, which helped in presenting the BJP in a wider spectrum.
On April 21, a sea of humanity led by Speaker of Kerala Assembly K Radhakrishnan, entire ministers of the LDF cabinet, Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy, Members of Parliament of both CPM, LDF and Congress UDF, Bishops, Judges, IAS/IPS officers, Mayor, RSS/BJP leaders led by O Rajagopal paid homage to him at his residence and at the BJP State Office ‘Mararji Mandiram’. A huge motor cade accompanied the vehicle carrying his mortal remains to the crematorium. Perhaps, only after the legendry K.G. Marar, the demise of a BJP leader has evoked so much emotions and response.
BJP president Nitin Gatkari and Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj lauded his services to the Party. Sumitra Mahajan and Balbir punj visited his house and offered condolenses to his wife Shyamala and daughter Gouri Kalyani.
