HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) - Mobs torched nearly 100 state-run buses and hurled stones at government buildings in Andhra Pradesh on Monday after an opposition politician was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, police said.

Police fired in the air in several districts to disperse rioting activists of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) who also tried to burn the office of the ruling Congress party in two districts, they said.

The violence came hours after P. Ravindra, a former state minister and TDP leader, was gunned down outside the party office in Anantpur town, about 375 km southwest of the state capital Hyderabad.

A political associate of Ravindra and a security guard were also killed in the attack.

TDP leaders said the Congress party, which won national elections last May, had withdrawn security cover of several TDP politicians, making them vulnerable to attacks by political rivals. Congress won power in Andra Pradesh in state elections also held in May.

"We have approached the National Human Rights Commission and also the President of India as over 20 of my party workers have been killed (so far) in Anantpur district by political opponents," TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu told reporters.

TDP was a key member of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party-led federal coalition before Congress swept to power both in New Delhi and Andhra Pradesh in shock victories in elections last year.

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