In Controller
ViewBag.StateList = (from s in _db.StateMasters
select s).ToList();
In View
<div class="control-group">
<div class="controls">
<div class="form-label ">
State "star">*</div>
@Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.State,
new SelectList(ViewBag.StateList, "StateName", "StateName"), "-- Select --", new { @class = "span12 cusmo-input" })
@Html.ValidationMessage("State", new { @style = "color:red" })
</div>
</div>
In controller
objCust.State = model.State == null ? string.Empty : model.State;