Ariel Sharon (file photo)

Opinion polls in Israel indicate support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new centrist Kadima party is still strong ahead of the March 28 election despite the massive stroke that has incapacitated the Israeli leader.

A poll published Friday in the Yediot Ahronot daily newspaper found that the Kadima party under acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would win 39 of 120 parliament seats, well ahead of the right-wing Likud party and moderate Labor party.

A poll published by the Ha'aretz daily newspaper had similar results.

The opinion polls are the first to test the future for Mr. Sharon's new party since the prime minister suffered a massive stroke on Wednesday and was said by doctors to be unlikely to return to his post.