New Delhi (CNN) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -- the youngest member of India's Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty -- took on a formal leadership role in the main opposition Congress Party Wednesday, injecting a burst of enthusiasm among its ranks as the country gears up for general elections.

Vadra has often campaigned for the party, which is headed by her brother, Rahul. But until now, she has steered clear of an official role, ceding the limelight to her sibling, who will lead Congress as it prepares to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming months.

The 47-year-old mother of two has been put in charge of Congress' election campaign in a critical battleground: the eastern half of Uttar Pradesh, India's largest and politically most significant state, with a population of some 200 million people.

Descended from three former prime ministers -- including Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first leader -- Vadra has long been seen as a potential political leader, with many likening her appearance and campaign style to those of her grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She is married to businessman Robert Vadra.

In a tweet announcing multiple appointments, the Congress Party said: "We're fired up and ready to go."

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