Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose politics of moderation in a hardline party propelled the BJP to power for the first time in the 1990s, died on Thursday after long illness.

Vajpayee, 93, passed away on Thursday evening after being admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on June 11.

The release from the hospital said that his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and was put on life support system.

Leaders from across the political spectrum took to Twitter to express their condolences.