Shiv Sena leader and Heavy Industries Minister Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil on Saturday resigned from the Union Cabinet.

He sent his resignation to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee hours before the expansion and reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers.

Sources say that Patil's place is likely to be filled by another Shiv Sena member Subodh Mohite, but he may not get Cabinet rank.

On Friday, two other ministers, Minister of State for Finance Gingee Ramachandran and Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh too quit the ministry.