K. Kunhikannan, senior journalist and Resident Editor of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mouthpiece Janmabhoomi, passed away here on Thursday. He was 72.

Mr. Kunhikannan had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital after suffering a fall at his home on Monday. He was a prominent figure in Kerala’s media and political circles for decades.

Mr. Kunhikannan was the first general secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha in Keralam. He had contested the Assembly elections as the BJP candidate from the Peravoor and Kannur constituencies. He also served as the State vice-president of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists and was, for many years, the chairperson of the Kesari Smaraka Journalist Trust.

In addition, he served on the Censor Board, the Telecom Advisory Board, and the Keralam government’s journalist accreditation committee.

He is survived by his daughters, Prakula and Manjila.