At least three people suffered minor injuries when the police resorted to mild baton charge to control the unruly crowds.
Though there was enough space in the maidan, where Ms Gandhi was supposed to address the party workers, a group of enthusiastic people rushed to the entrance, when her motorcade entered in, sources said.
Ms Gandhi's arrival has ignited a festive mood among Congress workers and leaders of coastal Karnataka.
Earlier, union minsters from Karnataka and other senior Congress leaders accorded a warm welcome to the Z plus security holder at Mangalore Airport, who is visiting the BJP-ruled southern state for the second time this year to galvanise partymen for next year's assembly election.
For the first time in many years, large hoardings of Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi filled the city's main roads while the main traffic intersections were filled with banners and buntings, screaming about the existence of the Congress in this BJP bastion.
Ahead of her arrival, Youth Congress activists took out a vehicle rally on the main streets of the city.
During her half-day visit to the port city, she will address prominent leaders of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts and party workers at a mega convention at Nehru Maidan. She will launch the 'Kudroli Gokarnatha Temple Centenary celebrations' and Mangalore Dasara festivities, before flying back to Delhi.
Ms Gandhi's visit to this coastal district assumes significance as Congress is trying to re-establish its popularity in this region which has now become a BJP stronghold.
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