France condoles Atal Bihari Vajpayee's demise

" We were extremely saddened to learn of the death of former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee," read an official statement issued by the French embassy.

"France extends its condolences to his family and the Indian authorities and people. A poet, politician and visionary, he had a major impact on India’s history. His name remains linked to Franco-Indian friendship, which he shaped by launching the strategic partnership which has united our two countries since 1998," it said.

Vajpayee, a three-time Prime Minister of India, a Bharat Ratna and a stalwart of Indian politics who represented the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday.  He was 93.

He was admitted to the hospital on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion.

Vajpayee, whose first term as the Prime Minister lasted only 13 days in 1996, returned to the top position in 1998 to lead the nation till 2004.

A bachelor all his life, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 2015.

Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha (lower house) ten times and twice to the Rajya Sabha (upper house).

He represented the Lucknow parliamentary seat in Uttar Pradesh until 2009 when he retired from active politics.