Walking on his footsteps, UML has today successfully established itself as the second largest political party in the country.
Dozens of organizations have adopted his name whereas millions of rupees have been mobilized in his name by the party, trust and the government.
While Bhandari was on his way to create a name for himself, Photo Journalist Naresh Shrestha was capturing the people's leader in his camera.
It was sort of a Herculean task to take pictures of anti-Panchayat leaders like Late Madan Bhandari during the pre-democracy era. "The country was going through 'labor phase' during those times," recalls Shrestha.
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Two decades have passed since the tragic death of leader Bhandari. However, his memories still linger in the hearts of millions who had witnessed the historic change of 1990s.
A memory even deeper has been captured and saved by senior Photo-Journalist Naresh Shrestha in the negative prints.
"There were no digital cameras back then. I have saved respected Madan Bhandari's photo-negatives from heat, dust, moisture and molds through these years," Shrestha states.
Although most of the 'backup' for other pictures have been worn out with time, Shrestha in this regard has contributed more than any other journalist to save this particular phase in history.
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On Tuesday, the same Naresh Shrestha dropped in at Nepal Republic Media's office looking like a plundered voyager, seeking justice.
"I have come here seeking justice. I have been looted, stripped off my own property," Shrestha expressed his woes with moist eyes.
His pain could be made out. "The pictures I had saved of my revered leader Madan Bhandari have been stolen in broad daylight, over a hundred and fifty of them," he shared.
Mahottari branch of NMB bank robbed in broad daylight
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On June 25, 2015 Naresh excitedly reached Babar Mahal based Nepal Art Council where a photo-exhibition of his beloved leader Madan Bhandari was being held.
However, as he entered the exhibition hall, he went numb and was in utter shock as he observed the frames kept for exhibition.
A hundred and fifty photos taken by him were kept up for exhibition and that without his knowledge.
"How would you feel if somebody stripped you off your own jewelries and later kept them for sale in a jewelry shop?" confided Shrestha.
Shrestha's photos were kept for exhibition under Cultural Museum Nepal's banner from June 25 to July 1 without his permission.
Senior leaders from CPN-UML including party chair KP Oli had graced the occasion.
Party vice-chair and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam even reminisced old days while going through the photos held up for exhibition.
"I gaped for a while looking at those pictures, remembering the days from four decades ago, roaming around Madan Bhandari, capturing him in my camera," Shrestha said, adding, " A fair had been held after stealing my possession where the party chairman and vice-chairman stood witness."
"I somehow held myself back looking at the smiling pictures of Bhandari taken by me," Shrestha vented.
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He has now lodged a complaint for copyright violation as per Copyright Act 2059 at the Nepal Copyright Registrar's Office and at the Metropolitan Police Office at Teku.
Shrestha claims that this is a rare incidence in history that a huge number of photos belonging to a photographer have been 'stolen' and kept for exhibition sans permission.
"I expect that action will be taken against culprits for violating intellectual property and that justice will be delivered," Naresh Shrestha spills hope.
Shrestha managed to click some pictures of the exhibition where the photos taken by him had been exhibited.
Take a look at the photos of the exhibition captured by Naresh Shrestha:
