  We estimate strong coupling constant between the negative parity nucleons
with $\pi$ meson within the light cone QCD sum rules. A method for eliminating
the unwanted contributions coming from the nucleon--nucleon and
nucleon--negative parity nucleon transition is presented. It is observed that
the value strong coupling constant of the negative parity nucleon $N^\ast
N^\ast \pi$ transition is considerably different from the one predicted by the
3--point QCD sum rules, but is quite close to the coupling constant of the
positive parity $N N \pi$ transition.
