Thiruvananthapuram, April 20 (IANS) B.K. Sekhar, a top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Kerala who contested the April 13 assembly election, died at a private hospital in Kochi Wednesday afternoon, said party sources.

 
 Sekhar, 51, was hospitalised April 11. His ailment was identified as liver cancer. The funeral is likely to be held here Thursday.
 
 He was state vice president of the BJP and hailed from the capital city. He contested from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in the assembly election.
 
 Kerala leaders, including Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and leader of opposition from the Congress Oommen Chandy, have condoled the death of Sekhar who started his political career as a student leader.