India had lost a great son and an era had come to an end, former president Pranab Mukherjee said on Atal Bihari Vajpayee's death yesterday, while describing the BJP stalwart as a reasoned critique in the opposition and a seeker of consensus as prime minister.

Vajpayee was a democrat to the core, Mukherjee said as he expressed sadness at his demise. "Deeply saddened at the passing away of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A reasoned critique in opposition and a seeker of consensus as PM, Atal Ji was a democrat to the core. In his passing away, India has lost a great son and an era has come to an end. My deepest condolences," he said in a tweet.